(CNN) — Preparations were under way today for the private, invitation-only funeral of pop superstar Whitney Houston at the New Jersey church where she sang as a child.
Metal barricades were being erected around a tribute area in front of New Hope Baptist Church, where fans of Houston were leaving balloons, candles and photographs of the singer.
Inside, funeral directors met with members of the Newark, New Jersey, police, who will provide security for the event, said police Sgt. Ronald Glover.
The meeting was held to work out issues including where celebrity guests will be parked; how they will enter the church; and how much of an area in the neighborhood will be inside a police perimeter, he said. “We’re still making decisions about everything.”
Because of the police perimeter, a large screen will not be erected outside the church for the public to view the service. The church had said earlier it hoped such a screen could be in place.
Meanwhile, a steady stream of people drove by the church, some slowing down to snap pictures and others getting out of their cars to pose in front of the memorials.
Some fans said they were disappointed a public memorial for Houston will not be held, but others said they understood the family’s wishes not to have one.
Houston’s funeral will be broadcast on Saturday.
Houston, 48, was found dead in the bathtub of her suite at the Beverly Hilton on Saturday, hours before she was to attend a pre-Grammys bash at the Beverly Hills, California, hotel.
Houston’s death certificate, filed Wednesday, listed her cause of death as “deferred,” meaning it was delayed pending more information. Speculation has grown while authorities await the outcome of toxicology tests that could take weeks.
