See This

See This
Ida To Make Landfall Tomorrow

°

Homepage / Entertainment
Text Size

Anna Nicole's Funeral Details Released

Friend Says Services Will Be 'Over The Top'

POSTED: Thursday, March 1, 2007
UPDATED: 6:43 am CST March 2, 2007

Details have been released regarding the burial Friday of former Playboy Playmate Anna Nicole Smith.

Accoring to Richard Milstein, the attorney who was appointed guardian to Smith's 5-month-old baby, Danneilynn, the starlet's funeral in the Bahamas will begin at 10:30 a.m. EST.

"I kindly request that the members of the media help me to uphold the decorum and dignity that should be maintained throughout this process, for the sake of Dannielynn and the memories she will have of her mother's funeral," said Milstein.

Police officials are giving a stern warning to anyone, the media and spectators, who may cause disruptions, instituting a zero-tolerance policy. Anyone attempting to follow or photograph the escort or anyone interfering with the progress of the vehicles during the escort process will be arrested, warned the Miami-Dade Country Sheriff's Dept. Smith's body will be flown by private plane from Miami International Airport to Nassau, Bahamas.

Once arriving in Nassau, Smith will be transported to the Mount Horeb Baptist Church, where the service is expected to begin at 10:30 a.m. A private service for family is expected at 11:30 a.m. Smith will then be laid to rest next to her son, Daniel, at Lakeview Memorial Gardens.

Smith's companion, Howard K. Stern, the man requesting paternity testing, Larry Birkhead, and Smith's mother Virgie Arthur are expected to attend the funeral. Playboy founder Hugh Hefner is also rumored to be making plans to attend the former model's services.

Smith will be buried in a custom-made gown next to her 20-year-old son following an "over the top" memorial service with a tightly controlled guest list, said a friend helping to organize the memorial.

The memorial service, with about 300 guests, will feature large amounts of pink flowers, her favorite color, and singing from a well-known performer whose name organizers aren't ready to disclose, said the friend, Patrik Simpson of Beverly Hills, Calif.

"It will be a very beautiful, Anna Nicole send-off," Simpson told The Associated Press in an interview Wednesday night in the Bahamian capital of Nassau. "Of course it will be over the top because it's Anna Nicole."

Simpson's partner, Pol Atteu, has designed more than a dozen gowns for Smith, including the one in which she was to be buried in a "very elegant" casket that will most likely be closed, he said.

He declined to describe the dress.

Smith, 39, died in a Florida hotel on Feb. 8 -- setting off a battle over her burial and for custody of Dannielynn between her partner, Howard K. Stern, her mother, Virgie Arthur, and ex-boyfriend Larry Birkhead.

Arthur had wanted to bury Smith in her native Texas. But Stern insisted Smith wanted to be buried next to her son, Daniel, who died of apparent drug-related causes as he visited his mother three days after she gave birth to Dannielynn in the Bahamas.

The wrangling over Smith's body ended Wednesday when a Florida appeals court upheld a judge's ruling that allowed Smith to be buried in the Bahamas and Arthur decided not to appeal that decision.

Wayne Munroe, the Bahamian attorney for Smith's estate, said the Florida court ruling was "common sense."

"Everyone in this whole saga knows what her wishes were about every aspect of her affairs -- custody, property, everything," Munroe told the AP. "But people are steadfastly trying to get their wishes met and not hers. Nobody seems to care about this woman's wishes."

A Bahamian court has scheduled a hearing in the custody dispute for mid-March.

Smith married Texas oil tycoon J. Howard Marshall II in 1994 when he was 89 and she was 26. She had been fighting his family over his estimated $500 million fortune since his death in 1995, and her baby daughter could inherit millions.

Simpson said each "faction" -- Stern, Arthur and Birkhead – had to submit a guest list in advance and each would be limited to 100 people at the church service.

"It will be something very beautiful, very private, very over the top and very pink," he said.

The burial at Lakeview Memorial Gardens & Mausoleums will be much more intimate, with about 30 people, he said.

At Daniel's funeral, Smith and Stern erected a large green tent that blocked the media and other spectators from the service. Organizers of the former pinup's service are expected to do the same.

Simpson, a 38-year-old model talent scout who was friends with Smith for the past five years, said he and his partner plan to place photos of themselves with their 15-year-old daughter, who sang at Daniel's funeral, inside her casket, and other close friends also will likely add photos.

He recalled Smith as a warm and generous person who always remembered their daughter's birthday and other special events.

"She was just a good friend, a good mother, a great person," Simpson said. "She had a heart of gold and would give you the shirt off her own back."

Links We Like

Sponsored Content
Before you splurge on that pricey remodeling project, beware. It may not pay you back when it's time to sell. More

Employers generally have options when it comes to hiring. Makes sure you present yourself as professionally as possible, or else. More

If you're looking to save on your next new vehicle, a low sticker price is just one aspect. Consider all the costs and make the right decision. More

The signs of Cancer can sometimes be very subtle. Here's a guide to help you recognize them early. More

Most Popular

  • StoriesClick to Expand

    • Pearland Brothers Die In Plane Crash

      Dylan, Brendon LordGrief counselors will help students in Pearland after two brothers died in a plane crash along with their grandfather, KPRC Local 2 reports.

    • Nidal Hasan, 9/11 Mosque May Be Link

      Meanwhile, whether Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan is associated with the Sept. 11 hijackers is something the FBI will probably look into, according to a law enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing.

    • 4 Bodies Found In Cleveland House

      A welfare check on a family in Cleveland leads to the discovery of four bodies in an apparent triple murder and a suicide.

    • Employee Found Dead In Business

      Police find a woman dead inside a northeast Houston business after customers couldn't find anyone at the front desk, KPRC Local 2 reports.

    • Officials: Body Of Missing Cowboy Found

      Gene RobertsThe search for a missing cattle herder ends with the discovery of his body, KPRC Local 2 reports.

  • VideosClick to Expand

  • SlideshowsClick to Expand

    • Fort Hood Victims From All Walks Of Life

      The 13 people killed when an Army psychiatrist allegedly opened fire on fellow soldiers at Fort Hood, Texas, included several people who shared the same profession as the alleged shooter. Here is a look at the victims.

    • Slideshow: Viewers' Hot Shot Pictures 2009 Part 2

      butterfly hotshotViewers send their favorite pictures to KPRC Local 2 meteorologists to feature on air. Send your submission to hotshots@click2houston.com and watch Local 2 to see if it's picked.

    • Tragedy At Fort Hood

      A soldier opened fire at a U.S. Army base in Fort Hood, Texas, on Thursday, unleashing a stream of gunfire that left 13 people dead and 31 wounded.

    • Slideshow 2: Viewers At Airshow

      Wings Over Houston AirshowThe Wings Over Houston Airshow was held at Ellington Field on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, 2009. More than 80,000 people attended. Check out some of the viewers who visited the KPRC booth.

    • Slideshow: Viewers At Airshow

      Wings Over HoustonThe Wings Over Houston Airshow was held at Ellington Field last weekend. More than 80,000 people attended. Check out the viewers who visited the KPRC Local 2 booth.

Marketplace

  • AutoClick to Expand

  • JobsClick to Expand

    • Six Answers Interviewers Need To Hire You

      During the typical job interview, you'll be asked a lot of questions. But do you really understand what the interviewer needs to know?

    • Guide To Negotiating A Great Salary

      You can start laying the groundwork for your salary negotiation even before the first interview. Here's a step-by-step guide.

    • Should You Say Yes To A Buyout?

      In today’s economy, the lure of a big-bucks buyout can be tempting, but before you say yes, take the time to understand what it will mean for you.

    • Ten Rules For Interviewing

      In the current job market, you'd better have your act together, or you won't stand a chance. Check yourself on these 10 basic points before your next interview.

  • WomenClick to Expand

    • Healthy Living In Your 40s

      Your guide to looking and feeling your best.

    • Manage Stress, Find Balance

      The idea of living a balanced life may seem like an oxymoron. Yet working toward balance and self-care is key to feeling in control and more joyful at home and work.

    • Weight & Exercise: The Right Mix

      Being healthy is related to how well you take care of yourself. But it’s never too late! A woman can learn new, healthy habits at any age.

  • InsuranceClick to Expand

    • Auto Insurance Quotes

      Simply enter your zip code and get great deals on your car insurance from the top companies. Click here and start saving today!

    • Health Insurance Quotes

      No matter where you live, you shouldn’t have to pay too much for health insurance. Your zip code is all you need and we’ll do the rest to find you great insurance rates.

    • Home Insurance Quotes

      Your home is your most valuable asset. So make sure you have coverage that fits your needs and doesn’t break the bank.

    • Life Insurance Quotes

      What would happen to your family if you were suddenly gone? Don’t leave their future to chance and find top quality life insurance before it’s too late.

    • Business Insurance Quotes

      Don’t take chances when it comes to insuring your business. To get the best rates from top companies in your area just enter your zip code.

  • HomesClick to Expand

Sponsored Links