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CNN Live At Daybreak

Thousands of People Expected to Attend Funeral of Lisa Lopes Today

Aired May 02, 2002 - 06:07   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Let's talk about something else right now. Thousands of people are expected to attend the funeral of Lisa Lopes today. Services for the TLC group member is open to the public. It is being held at a suburban Atlanta church.

Paul Crawley of our affiliate station WXIA joins us from the church to tell us what's going to go on there later today -- good morning.

PAUL CRAWLEY, CNN AFFILIATE WXIA REPORTER: Good morning, Carol. This is the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, a 10,000 seat facility right outside Atlanta in Lithonia, which is a suburb in DeKalb, County.

The service is open to the public. The parking lot opens at 10:00 today. Security already very heavy here.

Now, there was a wake last night, a private wake for friends and family of Lisa Lopes, many of them celebrities; among them Whitney Houston, Bobby Brown and other attending. Many of them expected to attend today's service as well.

Lisa Lopes, as we know, was killed a week ago this evening in Honduras in an automobile accident. The public will be allowed into the ceremony today at. Again, the church only seats 10,000; perhaps as many as 30,000 are expected to try to get in today. Everyone entering the sanctuary will be searched. No cameras will be allowed inside, and people are discouraged from bringing any kind of gifts or flowers; instead to send them to the Lisa Lopes Fund, c/o Multiple Sclerosis Society.

And quite a few, again, as I said, of the music luminaries expected today, but Bishop Eddy Long (ph), the pastor of the church, says he would rather people concentrate on Lisa Lopes on her life and on the meaning all of our lives should have for people around us.

Reporting live in DeKalb County, Paul Crawley -- back to you, Carol.

COSTELLO: Paul, is anyone expected to sing at the ceremony today?

CRAWLEY: Well, the only one that we are being told publicly is the gospel duo of Mary Mary. However, we are told that many of the musical celebrities who are attending, perhaps Prince and some others among them, may actually perform. There will be an open section of the service, where they will be allowed to, if they want, and organizers say it will be a very interesting and lively service.

COSTELLO: I bet. Thank you -- Paul Crawley from our affiliate station WXIA joining us live this morning.

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