Your tip
RadarOnlineRadarOnline
BREAKING NEWS

Inside Prince's Star-Studded Jehovah's Witness Funeral

Prince Dead Funeral Jehovas Witness Exclusive Photos
Source: Getty Images

May 16 2016, Updated 4:22 p.m. ET

Link to FacebookShare to XShare to Email
Prince Dead Funeral Jehovas Witness Exclusive Photos
Source: Getty Images

Photographer Kristin Kokkila captured exclusive moments from inside Prince's celebrity-filled Jehovah's Witness funeral — see the photos on RadarOnline.com.

Article continues below advertisement
Prince Dead Funeral Jehovas Witness Exclusive Photos
Source: Kokkila Photography Minneapolis

Prince was honored by the Jehovah's Witness community this weekend during a private funeral service at Kingdom Hall in Minnesota, where he frequently visited.

Prince Dead Funeral Jehovas Witness Exclusive Photos
Source: Kokkila Photography Minneapolis

According photographer Kristin Kokkila, "there were at least 50 police officers and two helicopters" on site, with many guests arriving by bus.

Article continues below advertisement
Prince Dead Funeral Jehovas Witness Exclusive Photos
Source: Kokkila Photography Minneapolis

"High profile" attendees, including Prince protégée Sheila E., comedian Sinbad, and bassist Larry Graham, arrived by car and were quickly escorted to the back of the church.

Article continues below advertisement
Prince Dead Funeral Jehovas Witness Exclusive Photos
Source: Kokkila Photography Minneapolis

Pamphlets at the ceremony featured a quote from Prince's song "Beautiful, Loved and Blessed," reading: "If I were to ever write down my life story, I could truly say with all the fame and glory, I was just a piece of clay in need of the potter's hand."

Article continues below advertisement
Prince Dead Funeral Jehovas Witness Exclusive Photos
Source: Kokkila Photography Minneapolis

According to Kokkila, only three flower arrangements decorated the church's interior. A book was also laid out for guests to sign in.

Article continues below advertisement
Prince Dead Funeral Jehovas Witness Exclusive Photos
Source: Kokkila Photography Minneapolis

"It was a beautiful service, a tribute to Prince," said attendee Richard Weiner.

Article continues below advertisement
Prince Dead Funeral Jehovas Witness Exclusive Photos
Source: Kokkila Photography Minneapolis
MORE ON:
Prince

"They talked about his faith, how he became a Jehovah's Witness in 2003, and his actions after that were to glorify God in words and deeds," he continued.

Article continues below advertisement
Prince Dead Funeral Jehovas Witness Exclusive Photos
Source: Kokkila Photography Minneapolis

Following the service, Kokkila said a neighboring house began playing a Prince radio station, which first featured one of the music icon's biggest hits, "Purple Rain."

Article continues below advertisement
Prince Dead Funeral Jehovas Witness Exclusive Photos
Source: Kokkila Photography Minneapolis

But not everyone in Prince's life decided to attend the funeral.

Article continues below advertisement
Prince Dead Funeral Jehovas Witness Exclusive Photos
Source: Kokkila Photography Minneapolis

Sister Tyka Nelson opted to skip out on the service, claiming she had already paid tribute to her brother.

Article continues below advertisement
Prince Dead Funeral Jehovas Witness Exclusive Photos
Source: Kokkila Photography Minneapolis

"Please Don't misunderstand...The grief process is a unique experience to each individual and Therefore I support any and all Memorials or Funerals that have happened and/or are being planned. However I will Not be in attendance, because I feel that once…is enough," she wrote in a Facebook post on Friday.

Article continues below advertisement
Prince Dead Funeral Jehovas Witness Exclusive Photos
Source: Kokkila Photography Minneapolis

As RadarOnline.com reported, Prince, 57, was discovered unresponsive in an elevator at 9:43 a.m. on April 21, inside his infamous Chanhassen residence.

Article continues below advertisement
Prince Dead Funeral Jehovas Witness Exclusive Photos
Source: Kokkila Photography Minneapolis

Now, investigators are looking into a possible drug overdose as the cause of death, and whether it had anything to do with the doctor allegedly prescribing him pills in the weeks before his death.

Prince Dead Funeral Jehovas Witness Exclusive Photos
Source: Kokkila Photography Minneapolis

For more of Kristin Kokkila's work, visit her Photography Facebook page here.

Advertisement

DAILY. BREAKING. CELEBRITY NEWS. ALL FREE.

Opt-out of personalized ads

© Copyright 2024 RADAR ONLINE™️. A DIVISION OF EMPIRE MEDIA GROUP INC. RADAR ONLINE is a registered trademark. All rights reserved. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy and Cookies Policy. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services. Offers may be subject to change without notice.