Whitney Houston’s body arrives in New Jersey for funeral

The body of the late Whitney Houston, who died suddenly on Saturday at a hotel in Los Angeles on the eve of the Grammys, arrived in New Jersey Monday. Houston, who was born in Newark, NJ, will be buried in the state.

According to E! News, a private jet took her body from Los Angeles to New Jersey’s Teterboro Airport, arriving at around 10:30 p.m., WABC-TV reported. The plane, a Gulfstream III, is reportedly owned by director Tyler Perry and took off from California’s Van Nuys airport Monday afternoon. The body was released to the family by the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office and was escorted to the plane by private security. LAPD was called in to hold back crowds.

However, crowds met Houston’s body in New Jersey on its way to the funeral home, reports TMZ. The body was transported in a golden hearse to the Wingham Funeral Home, where fans were already waiting. Some were even selling “In Memory of Whitney Houston” T-shirts for $10 each. Cissy Houston, Houston’s mother, was at the home waiting for the hearse to arrive.

TMZ also reported Tuesday that a rift between the Houston family began when the majority of the family wanted her body buried in Newark. Family sources told TMZ that Houston’s mother and cousin, Dionne Warwick, wanted the body buried in Atlanta, the city Houston enjoyed and remembered fondly. However, other relatives noted that Newark was where she was born and discovered when she began singing at a Baptist church.

E! News reports that a small wake may be held on Thursday, with a possible memorial service at the Prudential Center arena the next day. Rev. Marvin Winans will probably preside over the funeral. Rev. Winans also presided over Houston and Bobby Brown’s marriage.