Fans mourn ahead of Houston funeral

NEWARK, New Jersey - Two days before Whitney Houston is laid to rest, tearful fans paid their respects to the pop superstar on Thursday in front of the Newark church where her funeral is to be held.

All day long, fans gathered outside the New Hope Baptist Church where Houston sang in the choir as a child and left mementos in her honor, such as heart-shaped Mylar balloons tied to the fence and roses placed on the ground.

Some lingered in the frigid winter rain before the red brick building, as their way of paying tribute to the singer some knew as "Nippy", the winsome girl who honed her powerful voice on the gospel standards.

Houston, one of the world's great pop music divas who sold more than 170 million records during a long career derailed by substance abuse, died last Saturday in her hotel room in California on the eve of the Grammys.

Fans await autopsy results that may not be made public for up to eight weeks, as speculation rages that Houston, 48, may have died from a lethal cocktail of prescription drugs and alcohol.

The autopsy was completed on Sunday, but the results have been held back pending the completion of a toxicology probe.

Saturday's private service is meant to be a homecoming and celebration of Houston's astonishing career, but her most loyal fans say they had still hoped for a large public memorial service at a nearby stadium.

"The family wanted to keep it private. We have to respect that," said Izet Sims.

"She had great talent, great music. She was always positive," said 21-year-old Donald Bernal, who traveled from Brooklyn, New York, to pay his respects.

"I grew up listening to her music. My mother used to play her records all the time," he said, adding that he would have loved to attend a service in her honor but knows he'll have to make do with live streaming video.

"That is the closest I can get to her," he said.

Terry Guions, who works in a nearby retirement center, called the singer's death "a devastating moment", adding that Houston, with her divine voice, was surely "an angel in heaven".

Saturday's funeral service at New Hope, which can accommodate about 1,500 people, is by invitation only and will be held under the tightest security.

Soul diva Aretha Franklin, Houston's godmother, is on the guest list, which will likely include a slew of celebrities. Media reports speculated that Kevin Costner, her co-star in The Bodyguard, might attend.

The Star-Ledger newspaper reported that roughly 100 police officers will handle security both inside the church and in the six-block perimeter around the building.

The city's police chief this week was urging crowds to stay away."I would urge people not to come to the church," said Newark Police Director Samuel DeMaio.

"There's really going to be nothing to see. There's no procession," he said.

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has ordered flags flown at half-staff Saturday in honor of the late pop singer.

Some who came to the church this week left behind handwritten posters bearing the words: "RIP Whitney" and "We will always love you" - a reference to her smash-hit ballad I Will Always Love You, featured in The Bodyguard.

Fans at the church also left behind many photos of Houston from every stage of her illustrious and tragic career, all showing the beautiful star with a megawatt smile.

On a rain-soaked placard, hundreds had handwritten their condolences.

Cynthia Johnson said she had known Houston since high school.

"She was very caring, very happy, a very free spirit," said Johnson, who now lives in Florida but came back to Newark once she heard of the megastar's death.

"She was a legend, an icon, and we will truly miss her."

Agence France-Presse