
Whitney's daughter Bobbi Kristina pictured for first time since she was rushed to hospital following the singer's death

Family 'keen for Bobbi Kristina to enter live-in rehab facility for substance abuse issues after the funeral'



Throngs of fans line streets as police procession guides family and friends to private viewing ahead of funeral

Singer's mother Cissy leads family and friends including Dionne Warwick and Clive Davis

Ray-J, who has said Whitney will 'live in his heart forever', and his sister Brandy flew out of LAX



With millions of viewers set to witness Whitney Houston's funeral at noon today, the late singer's family members, including her mother Cissy and daughter Bobbi Kristina, took the opportunity to pay their respects in private yesterday.

Bobbi Kristina, 18, seen for the first time since being rushed to hospital after collapsing through stress following her mother's passing, was seen arriving at Whigham Funeral Home in the singer's hometown of Newark, New Jersey alongside her tearful grandmother Cissy Houston.

They were later joined by famous faces including Houston's life-long friend and mentor Clive Davis and as well as the singer's cousin Dionne Warwick.



Funeral director Caroline Whigham told the crowd gathered outside that the viewing 'was done in privacy between a mother, a daughter, two brothers and a family,' according to People magazine.

The mourning family was also accompanied by a strong police presence which ensured the large crowds of fans who gathered outside the home kept their distance.



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Emotional time: Whitney Houston's mother Cissy Houston, 78, was seen arriving at the funeral home for a special private viewing with close friends and family on Friday afternoon

The heavy officer presence comes amid police warnings for fans to stay at home to watch the service rather than scramble for a place near the New Hope Baptist Church. Authorities say fans will not even be able to get within six square blocks of the church.



Cissy was escorted into the building by a priest and held hands with a woman in a crisp white shirt. The former gospel singer was dressed smartly in a black coat with an orange and brown leopard print scarf wrapped around her shoulders.



Whitney's daughter Bobbi Kristina, pictured in public for first time since she was rushed to hospital following the singer's death in a Beverly Hills hotel, arrived at the funeral home in dark jeans, white vest and a black jacket.



She appeared controlled as she entered the funeral home. 'There are moments when she is strong and moments when it all hits her,' a source told People magazine. 'She can't escape it.'

Sad day: Whitney's daughter Bobbi Kristina was also seen arriving at Whigham Funeral Home in New Jersey



Strong police presence: As the family cars arrived at the funeral home they were accompanied by police officers on bikes in cars and vans

Helping hand: Cissy walked into the venue hand in hand with a staff member while Bobbi Kristina looked composed

Making an entrance: The family members were accompanied by a police motorcade as they arrived at the Whigham Funeral Home

The 18-year-old is the daughter of Houston and her former husband Bobby Brown. It has been reported that the teen will now live with her grandmother 'indefinitely' according to HollywoodLife.com.



However, a new report on TMZ.com this morning claimed that Houston's family are keen for Bobbi Kristina to enter a 'live-in rehab facility' as soon as possible, but are willing to wait until after the funeral to allow the teenager time to grieve her mother's passing.

The website claims that Bobbi has, for the past three of four years, struggled with 'substance abuse issues', and her family are said to be keen for her to seek help before her problems get any worse.

The teenager hid her eyes between a pair of sunglasses and held the hand of a friend as she walked past security. Family and friends were greeted by what appeared to be an Egyptian-decorated casket outside the home.

As well as close family of Whitney in attendance friends also gathered together to pay their respects.

Tough time: Friends of the singer including Dionne Warwick, who was seen wearing a white shirt and black trousers, arrived alongside family



Security protection: Not only was there plenty of staff on hand to welcome mourners but there was also a strong police presence

Paying respects: Family and friends wanted time away from cameras last night. Today's funeral will be shown on television and online The late singer's cousin Dionne Warwick was seen arriving and had wore a white shirt and a pair of dark trousers.

Whitney's mentor and life-long friend Clive Davies also made an appearance as reports have emerged the music producer tried to get the singer to enter rehab in the weeks leading up to her death. Whitney's on-off boyfriend Ray-J was seen making his way through LAX airport with his sister Brandy on their way to New Jersey ahead of the funeral. Egyptian theme? A statue of what appeared to be Tutankhamun outside the funeral home Keeping it casual: The singer's cousin Dionne Warwick was seen in a pair of jeans and a baseball jacket on Friday afternoon Close friend: Music producer Clive Davis was seen arriving on the funeral home on Friday along with Whitney's mother Cissy and daughter Bobbi Kristina Arrival and departing: Clive was also seen leaving the funeral home later yesterday afternoon

Tribute: An American flag is flown at half mast in Newark by Gov. Christie of New Jersey Kevin Costner, who starred opposite Houston in the 1992 film The Bodyguard, was also seen making his way east at the airport.

Fans gathered outside where they signed a book of condolence and laid tributes, including flowers, balloons and teddy bears. It is expected that fans will be blocked off the site once the 48-year-old star's family arrives for her wake ahead of today's funeral. Sombre: Houston's on-off boyfriend Ray J arrived in New York with his sister Brandi as they made their way to pay their respects



Let the mourners come: Fans of the late Whitney Houston gathered outside the Whigham Funeral Home in Newark, New Jersey, yesterday where the singer's body is being held ahead of today's funeral. Family are expected to arrive shortly for a wake and private viewing



Family including daughter Bobbi Kristina, 18, along with her grandmother Cissy, 78, Miss Houston's mother, are due to say a more private goodbye at the pre-funeral service.



The gold hearse which conveyed her body to the funeral home remained parked outside, while fans lined up to pay their respects.



Already, some were waiting outside the temporarily crash barriers near the funeral home.

Capturing a moment in history: People took photographs and paid respects at the candle lit shrine at the funeral home on Friday night



Saying goodbye: Police have warned the public to stay away from the funeral and instead watch it on television over fears tens of thousands will descend on the service

From the heart: A fan signs a memorial book as she pays her respects to the late singer, who died last Saturday

Police presence: A cordon has been put in place to keep the entrance area cleared head of the family's arrival

Heading to the funeral: Kevin Costner and wife Christine Baumgartner arrived at JFK airport in New York late on Friday (left), while Houston's on-off lover Ray J and sister Brandy left LAX airport in Los Angeles to head for the east coast (right)



In their prayers: Houston's godmother Aretha Franklin performs at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on Friday night. She will take part in a tribute to Houston at the ceremony later today

The late singer’s husband Bobby Brown will also be attending after her family put aside their grievances and begrudgingly sent him an invitation.



It had been thought he would be kept away amid resentment he led his wife astray and fears he was trying to get his hands on her £25million fortune.



The 90-minute service will take place at noon local time at the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey, where Miss Houston was first discovered as a teenager.



It will reportedly be a mixture of religious music and celebrity tributes including a speech from Kevin Costner, Miss Houston’s co-star in The Bodyguard.



The church’s choir will perform the processional and the opening and a house band will be on stage throughout.



The song list and who will be in the backing cast for each artist has not yet been worked out.

Birth of a star: The New Hope Baptist Church in Newark where the funeral will be held and where Whitney used to sing with her mother as a child

We Will Always Love You: A throng of balloons have been tied to the gates of the church

Wiping away tears: A man holds a handkerchief to his face, while a young girl has her photo taken next to the tributes outside the church. Right, a man signs the book of condolence outside the nearby funeral home, the same home which dealt with her father John Russell Houston's funeral in 2003

Among the others who will reportedly attend the service are Dionne Warwick, Miss Houston’s cousin, Bill Cosby and U.S. chat show queen Oprah Winfrey.

R n B singer Brandy will be there as will The Rev Jessie Jackson, Chaka Khan and US X Factor judge Antonio 'L.A.' Reid.



Sir Elton John has denied reports he will be there.



The eulogy will be read by the Pastor Marvin Winans, who married Miss Houston and Brown in 1992.

Family: Houston, left, pictured just two days before her death with daughter Bobbi Christina Brown, centre, seen in a family shot with then-husband Bobby Brown in 2004 and, right, with mother Cissy in 2010

Missed the world over: A Filipino fan signs a message wall with the portrait of late US singer Whitney Houston at a mall in Quezon City, east of Manila, Philippines

All the proceedings will be streamed live on the Internet and roadblocks will be in place around the church to keep the public back and ensure those attending can get there on time.



Just hours later Brown, 43, will apparently split from the rest of his grieving family and travel to Connecticut - where he will play a lucrative concert at a casino.



The funeral comes one week after Houston was found dead in the bath of her hotel room in Los Angeles.



Police have reportedly obtained her medical records and are investigating what drugs were supplied to her in her final days.



No cause of death has been identified yet and officials are waiting for the results of toxicology tests.

The Whigham Funeral Home is just a mile away from the New Hope Baptist Church where Houston's funeral will take place at noon today

Setting up: Yesterday, a truck was seen arriving at the church ahead of the funeral bringing speakers and lighting equipment ahead of today's show



Send off: Given the talent that will perform, including the likes of Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder, Whitney will be given the tribute she deserves

Ray J, who was dating Whitney in the months before her death has finally broken his silence.

The 31-year-old released a statement that said: 'Over the past few days, I've tried to process the emptiness that I am experiencing. What my heart feels cannot be expressed in words. The world lost an icon, but I lost my close friend.'



Alluding to a nickname given to Whitney by her father he added: 'Nippy, I miss you so much!'



'You were so happy and full of love. Your smile will live in my heart forever.'



Ray J was seen at LAX airport on Friday catching a flight to New Jersey ahead of Whitey's service today.

It has also revealed yesterday that Mel Gibson reached out to the I Didn’t Know My Own Strength singer a few years ago to try and deal with her addiction issues.

The Braveheart star was invited to the funeral by Whitney's family but is unable to attend because of prior family commitments, TMZ reports.



Remembered: A billboard tribute to Houston in New York's Times Square

Lighting up the night: Whitney's image was beamed onto the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey



