Whitney Houston was celebrated and honored and remembered…for hours… as her family and friends memorialized her life.

The service was attended by 300 mourners, including Oprah Winfrey, Tyler Perry, Alicia Keys, Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Forest Whitaker, Jennifer Hudson, Diane Sawyer and Houston's cousin, Dionne Warwick.

While many people have discussed Houston’s talent, her demons, her appearance, her marriage, her rise and fall and hope to rise again, one dimension of her life everyone seems to agree on: her unwavering faith in a God who loved her and cared for her.

Perhaps, now it is Whitney who listens to her Creator’s words: “I will always love you…”

(S-R archives photo)

 Her voice was sultry and strong; her smile, beautiful. Her life – a bit tumultuous.

Whitney Houston died on the fourth floor of the Beverly Hilton Hotel, on the eve of the Grammy Awards, which she was to attend.

Houston was at the prime of her career from the mid-1980s to the late 1990s. She had a graceful presence on screen. Her films included The Bodyguard and Waiting to Exhale.

Her 2009 album “I Look to You” was a comeback attempt and debuted on the top of the charts; the album would eventually go platinum.

Houston leaves behind a daughter – and many grieving family members and friends.

(S-R archives photo)