Whitney Houston - New Jersey's Favorite Daughter?

It turns out, Whitney Houston was born and raised in Newark, NJ.  I honestly didn't know that until I saw on the news (ad nauseam) that her body was being flown here for burial.  Apparently, she still has family living here.  But I never heard of her returning to New Jersey to give anything back to the state or community and no one I know would ever associate her with New Jersey.  So I was surprised when Governor Chris Christie ordered all flags to be flown at half-staff on Saturday in her honor.  I was always under the impression that was an honor reserved for government officials, military personnel and peace officers.  You know, people that actually worked to better or defend the state.  New Jersey natives like Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi do charitable work, bring business to the state, live in the state and are actually associated with the state.  When their time comes, I can see them getting this honor.

Roy Scheider died a few years ago and was a native of Orange, NJ (a stone's throw away from Newark) and was arguably more famous then Whitney Houston, but didn't receive this honor.  He starred in some of the most famous movies of all time (Jaws, The French Connection, etc.) and to my knowledge, didn't do crack.  Very few people knew he was from the state and was never associated with it.

So, does anyone think Whitney Houston deserves this honor?