The Buckingham

Photo Credit: www.whitneyhouston.com

Newark, New Jersey is grieving after losing one of their own, Whitney Houston, this past week. The entire town, young and old alike, is mourning Houston’s sudden passing.

Whitney Houston was not the only star to grow up in Newark, but one of the most beloved. She never forgot her roots in both Newark and nearby East Orange, and often contributed back to her hometowns.

Houston often returned to her childhood church, the New Hope Baptist Church, to sing on Easter, according to Pastor Joe Carter. She treated the community with kindness, even though she barely knew many of them.

The Whitney E. Houston Academy of Creative and Performing Arts staff and student body felt the loss of Houston because of her dedication and connection to the institution. After a memorial service held at the school on Monday, students, especially young girls, talked about how Houston inspired them to be successful in the future.

The governor of New Jersey, Chris Christie, remarked that Houston is one of the state’s iconic figures, along with legends such as Frank Sinatra and Bruce Springsteen. Christie has also ordered all flags to be lowered to half-staff on Saturday for the late singer’s private memorial service.

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