Q: The color of the hearse that was used at Whitney Houston’s funeral was gold. I have never seen a hearse in that color. Was this hearse made especially for her funeral?
—Renee VanderBoom, Norcross
A: The golden Lincoln hearse used for Houston's funeral on Feb. 18, was from Whigham Funeral Home in her hometown of Newark, N.J., according to USA Today. Whigham uses gold cars for its funerals. Whigham also provided three gold Lincoln Town Car stretch limos for Houston's funeral procession. Whigham handled the 2003 funeral of Houston's father, according to The Associated Press.
Q: At what church in Texas were there men marrying 12- and 13-year-old girls?
—Elizabeth Smith, Lithonia
A: Twelve girls between the ages of 12 and 15 were confirmed victims of sexual abuse and neglect because they were found to be married at the Yearning for Zion Ranch, a settlement of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints near Eldorado, Texas, according to a 2008 report from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. Seven of those girls had at least one child. Forty-three girls from the ages of 12 and 17 were removed from the ranch and there were 262 other children found to be subjected to neglect, according to the report. Former church president Wendell Loy Nielsen will be the 11th man to be prosecuted as a result of a raid on the church compound, according to the San Angelo (Texas) Standard-Times. Nielsen is scheduled to go to trial next month.
Andy Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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