But it shone an even brighter light on Ms Houston?s deep Baptist faith and her love for the gospel community that recognised her singing talent long before the world ever heard it and made her one of the world?s best-selling music artists.
Gospel choirs ushered the platinum coffin, covered in pink and white flowers, into the New Hope Baptist Church with a hushed chant of ?Whitney Whitney? before breaking into dancing, clapping and joyous hallelujahs. At the ceremony's end, it was carried out to the sound of Ms Houston's signature hit "I Will Always love You" as guests wept, reached out to touch it, or knelt in prayer.
For Bobby Brown, Ms Houston?s husband of 15 years - blamed by many for playing a role in her descent into substance abuse ? there appeared little in the way of welcome. Photographs of Mr Brown, who divorced from Ms Houston in 2007, were absent from the ceremony?s glossy programme, which was otherwise filled with pictures of the artist with her mother Cissy and daughter Bobbi Kristina, 18.
Mr Brown arrived at the church with his head down, walked to his ex-wife?s coffin and touched it, but left the church a short while later, said by security guards to be upset at the seating plan's failure to accommodate his nine-strong entourage.
Mr Brown later issued a statement complaining that he and his children were invited to the funeral but were asked by security to move three times after they were initially seated.
He said: "I fail to understand why security treated my family this way and continued to ask us and no one else to move. Security then prevented me from attempting to see my daughter Bobbi Kristina. In light of the events, I gave a kiss to the casket of my ex-wife and departed as I refused to create a scene.
"My children are completely distraught over the events. This was a day to honour Whitney. I doubt Whitney would have wanted this to occur. I will continue to pay my respect to my ex-wife the best way I know how."
Reverend Jesse Jackson, the civil rights leader, revealed that he had tried in vain to mediate a solution and lamented Mr Brown's treatment.
"That was a painful moment...It seemed they could have accommodated him better than they did," he said.
A note in the programme from Ms Houston?s mother, and signed simply ?Mommie?, read: ?I never told you that when you were born, the Holy Spirit told me that you would not be with me long. I thank God for the beautiful flower he allowed me to raise and cherish for 48 years. Rest, my baby girl, in peace.?
Among the homages to the singer?s accomplishments, talents and personal and professional legacies, there were also several acknowledgments of the demons that brought her demise. Ms Houston had in the past admitted to drug and alcohol abuse and her drinking and pharmaceutical habits are central to the police investigation into her death. Her mother and others had attempted to stage interventions on several occasions ? offers of help that the artist fatefully batted away.
?You did everything you could, but the choice was always hers,? said Patricia Houston, her sister-in-law and manager, addressing Cissy Houston from the church podium.
Clive Davis, her music producer and longtime mentor, told how Ms Houston had spent time with him in his bungalow at the Beverly Hilton hotel four days before she died, discussing her intention to get her life and career back in order.
?It was like old times and she looked at me and quietly said, ?I want you to know, I?m getting in shape?I?m committed to getting my voice back. I?ll be ready by August,?? he recalled. ?Well Whitney, I?m going to hold you to it. Everyone in heaven, including God, is waiting and I just know you are going to raise the roof like no one else has done before.?
Kevin Costner, who chose Ms Whitney Houston to star alongside him in the 1992 film The Bodyguard, defying doubts from studio bosses that her race and her lack of acting experience could render it a flop, drew laughter with anecdotes from their time together, referring to her tenderly as a ?sweet miracle?.
?The Whitney I knew, despite her worldwide fame, still wondered ?Am I good enough? Am I pretty enough? Will they like me?? It was the burden that made her great, and the part that caused her to stumble in the end,? he said, his voice occasionally catching with emotion.
Addressing her coffin, displayed on a stand in front of the pulpit, Mr Costner added: ?Whitney, if you could hear me now, I would tell you: You weren?t just good enough, you were great?People didn?t just like you, Whitney, they loved you.
?So off you go Whitney, off you, escorted by an army of angels to your heavenly Father. And when you sing before him don?t you worry. You?ll be good enough.?
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