/ Source: The Associated Press
Pockets of fans are gathering as close as they can get to the church where Whitney Houston's funeral will be held in her New Jersey hometown.
Police in Newark have blocked off streets in every direction surrounding the New Hope Baptist Church. Outside that perimeter, a few mourners are gathering Saturday morning. They include fans who have traveled from as far as Washington, D.C., and Miami. Some people are setting up card tables to sell silk-screened T-shirts with Houston's image and her CDs.
Houston, who was 48, died Feb. 11 in California, the day before the Grammy awards.
About 1,500 guests are expected to attend Saturday's private service including Aretha Franklin, Clive Davis and Stevie Wonder.