Whitney Houston remembered on LI

Moments before the congregation at Faith Baptist Church in Hempstead erupted into a rendition of "Greatest Love Of All," the Rev. Joe L. Brown asked the crowd to remember the contributions Whitney Houston made to their lives.

"The world is missing a great singer, a great personality," Brown said. "The music that Whitney brought forth will live for eternity."

The congregation of about 250 people met Brown's sentiment with a loud "Amen."

It was a scene played out Sunday in houses of worship, breakfast tables and street corners on Long Island and around the country as mourners and fans remembered Houston, 48, who died Saturday.

The Grammy-winning singer was found dead in her room on the fourth floor of the Beverly Hilton, Beverly Hills police Lt. Mark Rosen said. "There were no obvious signs of any criminal intent," he said. The cause of death was unknown, said Houston's publicist, Kristen Foster.

Houston's death came on the night before music's biggest showcase, the Grammys. She was remembered in a prayer by host LL Cool J at the show's opening and in a tribute by Jennifer Hudson.

At her peak, Houston was the golden girl of the music industry. From the mid-1980s to the late 1990s, she was one of the world's best-selling artists.

At New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, N.J., the hometown church in whose choir Houston sang before becoming a star, parishioners at Sunday morning services remembered her. Up to 200 people attended the Newark church's three scheduled services, portions of which were devoted to Houston and her family. Cards and flowers were tied to the railings of the church, and congregants hugged and cried at the entrance.

At the Hempstead service Sunday, Brown expressed empathy for Houston's mother, gospel singer Cissy Houston, and reminded parishioners at the church, where music plays a major role in services, that "we can all identify with being a soul singer."

Brown also asked the crowd to find forgiveness for singer Bobby Brown, with whom Houston had a tumultuous 14-year marriage.

"Bless even Bobby," he said.

Earlier in the service, Pat Murphy of Freeport addressed the crowd and said it "broke my heart to see that news last night" -- and parishioners applauded in agreement.

"What a beautiful girl and what a nightmare for everybody," Murphy said.After the service, memories of Whitney Houston dominated conversation at the church's social hour.

Herman Patterson of Hempstead cited Houston's legendary performance of the national anthem at Super Bowl XXV in 1991 as the singer's brightest moment.

"Nobody came close to her. She sang that national anthem with grace and professionalism," Patterson said. "It was like everyone came to a standstill."

Gloria Simmons of Hempstead said one of Houston's signature performances was her role in the movie "The Bodyguard."

"I sat there with tears running down," she said.

Chivon Deans of Hempstead said Houston will be remembered as a skilled actress as well as an iconic singer. "There will probably never be another one like her," he said.

In other Long Island churches, Houston's passing remained on parishioners' minds.

Houston was remembered at Bibleway Missionary Baptist Church in Wyandanch, said churchgoer Johneatter Williams. Williams, who drives to Wyandanch for services every Sunday from her and Houston's hometown of Newark, said the church community was mourning the singer's passing.

"We love Whitney Houston and she will be missed very much. She's a voice who will be missed," Williams said.

With AP