Detroit pastor and Grammy-winning gospel singer Marvin Winans said Tuesday he will preside at the funeral services for Whitney Houston.

Cards, balloons and flowers are displayed at a makeshift memorial outside of The New Hope Baptist Church on Tuesday in Newark City.

 

Do You Like this Article? Then Like Us on Facebook.

 

The private services are set for noon Saturday at New Hope Baptist Church in Houston's hometown of Newark, N.J. Houston, 48, died Saturday in Beverly Hills.

Winans, who serves at Perfecting Church on Detroit's east side, said he has known Houston since the early '80s, when she released her first album. He said he is delivering the homily at the request of the singer's mother, Cissy Houston.

Winans, who presided over the wedding of Houston and singer Bobby Brown, said he last saw Whitney Houston when she was in Detroit in late 2011 filming the remake of Sparkle-- and she attended services at Perfecting.

Houston was also very close with Winans' younger sister, famed gospel singer CeCe Winans. Houston and CeCe sang Count on Me for the movie Waiting to Exhale, in which Houston starred.

Marvin Winans said the entire Winans family will attend the service. Asked whether any of the Winans will perform, he replied: "Whatever Momma Houston wants, that's what she's going to get."

In Newark, Whigham Funeral Home owner Carolyn Whigham said the service will be by invitation only, reflecting the family's decision to keep the memorial more personal.

Outside the funeral home, Florence Daniels-Jackson used a cane for support as she made her way to the glass doors. Fifteen years ago, Houston took time to attend the funeral for Daniels-Jackson's niece after the woman suffered an aneurysm at 28, Daniels-Jackson said.

Source: USA Today | Kelley L. Carter and Alesha Williams Boyd