Jehovah’s Witnesses in suburban Minneapolis are planning a private memorial service for Prince this weekend.
A Kingdom Hall in Minnetonka asked police to provide traffic control for the invitation-only service on Sunday evening, Kari Spreeman, a spokeswoman for the suburb’s Police Department, said on Friday.
Prince was a convert to the Jehovah’s Witnesses and began worshipping at the Kingdom Hall just outside Minneapolis. Friend and bassist Larry Graham, himself a Jehovah’s Witness, says he introduced the Purple Rain star to the faith.
Minneapolis law firm Gray Plant Mooty, which is representing Prince’s sister Tyka Nelson, declined to comment in a statement on Friday. The Kingdom Hall did not respond to a request for comment.
Prince was found dead at age 57 in his Paisley Park recording complex in Chanhassen on April 21. Police are still investigating.
Last week, Prince’s six surviving siblings said in a statement that, contrary to reports, no public memorial, funeral or tribute service has been organised or authorised by his family or Paisley Park representatives. But the family members said they are planning an official memorial service to take place “in the near future” and that details are expected soon.
A group of Prince’s family, friends and musicians celebrated his life in a small, private service on April 23 after his remains were cremated.
