Family and friends gathered at New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, N.J. to give a final farewell to the late Whitney Houston. Her funeral brought out a host of celebrities who paid tribute to the R&B singer.

Getting her musical start at New Hope Baptist at age 11 singing in the choir, Houston was remembered during a nearly four-hour service by those who loved her most in the place where her singing roots lie.

The funeral comes just a week after Houston, 48, was found dead in her suite at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on the eve of the Grammy Awards. Her cause of death is still unknown.

Along with her mother, Cissy Houston, cousin, singer Dionne Warwick, and her daughter, Bobbi Kristina, giants in the entertainment industry also paid their respects. Tyler Perry, Clive Daivs and Kevin Costner were in attendance along with Oprah Winfrey, Jennifer Hudson and Roberta Flack. Alicia Keys, Stevie Wonder and CeCe Winans gave musical tributes to Houston.

“There are two constants that I know about Whitney Houston,” Perry said during his remarks. “There was a grace that carried her from heaven down through Miss Cissy Houston, a grace that brought her up through singing. The other thing I know for sure: Whitney Houston loved the Lord.”

During his reflection, Costner said Houston was “as beautiful as a woman could be.” The two starred together in the 1992 film The Bodygaurd which spawned Houston’s signature song “I Will Always Love You.”

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christy and Newark mayor Cory Booker were also in attendance. Both the Rev. Al Sharpton and the Rev. Jesse Jackson were there as well.

Bobby Brown, Houston’s ex-husband, reportedly came to the funeral bringing what he claims were several members of his family before leaving. In a statement, he said he kissed Houston’s casket and left because he “refused to create a scene.”

Houston was eulogized by gospel singer and minister Marvin Winans who said Houston will always be remembered and that she will inspire future entertainers to live out their dreams. In one interview he defended Houston’s mother’s wish to hold a private service.

“I knew that Mama Houston would do it the way she wanted it done, which is, ‘We’re going to church and we’re not gonna be worried about if the world can get in. We’re gonna lay our daughter to rest in the confines and the tradition of what we do,” he said.

At the end of the service, Cissy Houston was taken out with two women by her side as she cried following pallbearers carrying her daughters casket out of the church.

While fans were not allowed inside for the funeral, several hundred people showed their support and remembrance for Houston blocks away from the church. The funeral was broadcast on several television networks and streamed online.

Houston will reportedly be buried at Fairview Cemetery in Westfield, N.J. alongside her father who died in 2003.