when we finally closed the deal with sony pictures in 2011, deborah chase, her producing partner, devonof the happiest times of her life. the presence of god was in the midst of this project. in her mind, it was ordained by god. in the history of her filmmaking, this movie inspired her to be devoted and dedicated. what she herself wanted to be as a mother, bobbi kristina, and nicholas, her godson. her work ethics were impeccable. she was on top of her game. and on this day, i'm proud to say that she was a gift of light to many on that set. she put the spark in "sparkle" and, krissy, that was for you. you were that spark. she wanted much for you. you know how she used to tell you to say your prayers. did you read that scripture? i don't care what was going on with her. i don't care what it was. she stayed grounded in the word mom. you'd be proud. be proud. to her band members, past and present, thank you for never abandoning her. [ applause ] she had nothing but love for you. for all that knew her intimately, our small circle of friends, all of you performing tod today, to tyler, that co

when we finally closed a deal with sony pictures in 2011, deborah chase her producing partner davon franklinroject. in her mind, it have ordained by god. and the history of her film making, this movie inspired her to be devoted and dedicated. what she herself wanted to be as a mother bobbie kristina. and nicholas, her godson. her work ethics were impeccable. she was on top of her game. and on this day i'm proud to say that she was a gift of light to many on that set. she put the spark in "sparkle." and krissy, that was for you. you were that spark. she wanted much for you. you know how she used to tell you to say your prayers. did you read that scripture? i don't care what was going on with her, i don't care what it was, she stayed grounded in the word. mom, you'd be proud. be proud. to her band members past and present, thank you for never abandoning her. [ applause ] she had nothing but love for you. for all that knew her intimately, our small circle of friends, all of you that were performing today. to tyler that comforting spirit, that stayed with me when i needed you most. every phone c

her and deborah martin chase joked about the fact that, i guess initially whitney was going to be liketill going to be fly. she said that. this momma is still fly. >> i'm going to be a mother instead of a hot momma. why did she take the part? because it kind of paralleled her life a little bit -- not a little bit, a lot. >> i think it was disappointing with the last album she did. so it was such a heart project for her that she just wanted to see it come to light. >> let's talk about this, because we don't know what happened to whitney houston, but we do know from her, her own mouth she had a problem with substance abuse. if you've ever dealt with someone who has had abuse issues they can, for years, they can be fine and then fall off. a sip of wine, one drink, anything can be a trigger. >> shaka kahn's interview was so enlightening. even though she's been clean for several years, she's still vulnerable. she said someone like her -- whitney, should not have been in l.a. for that long of a time. she should have come in, or the day of the performance and then leave. you know, not to be a

my friend deborah martin chase who was whitney houston's producing partner for the last 20 years. >> looked like the comeback was on. >> there were times in the past when they said whitney was coming back. this time she looked like she was really on her game and no one could have told me when i was sitting down there looking in her eyes and watching about the future and being hopeful about the future and no one would tell me that three months later she would be gone. i would not have believed it. >> as we are talking, some of the scenes from inside new hope baptist church. that is the new hope -- that's the new hope choir along with the new jersey mass choir, we are told and they're wearing white. >> yes. >> they're not wearing black. this is not just mourning. >> right. >> this is a celebration. >> yes. and this is called whitney houston's home going which is, as you know, a common expression in the black community when there is -- especially in the baptist community, but also just in the black community in general. it's about a home going, about going back home to where you origina

deborah ferrick is with me. she wants to ask you a question as well. >> neil, there were reports that one of the teachers actually chased the gunman out of the school and in doing so, he may have saved multiple lives. what are you hearing about the teacher? >> caller: right. that teacher is also a football coach. a great guy. coach hall. what i've heard is that he chased out the gunman and from what i've heard from people that were there is that he may have been shot at. and, you know, not hit. but coach hall just like -- he always talks about how much he cares about us students and his team and you know, everyone. and i think today he really went out and he proved how much he cared about us. he would take a bullet for us. >> does, once the gunman was out of the school, did officials make it clear that, in fact, the coast was clear or were students still in lockdown waiting for police and sheriff's deputies, as well as the s.w.a.t. team to arrive and give an all-clear? >> i could say they wanted to take precautions, you know. >> caller: they wouldn't put us out there in harm's way. as far as i could tell, everything was