CHICAGO (CBS) – Two Chicago women who knew Whitney Houston share their memories of the late singer with CBS 2’s Dorothy Tucker.

Regina Daniels, Houston’s former publicist, shows the gold bracelet she received from the singer. It includes a very special inscription, “Regina and Nippy.”

“Nippy, which is her nickname,” Daniels says.

Houston’s father gave the singer the nickname, which was reserved for family and close friends.

“I tell you, she was a sweetheart. She genuinely was. She was fun, she was a joker,” Daniels says.

She worked for Houston for nine years, during the height of her career.

She says one of Houston’s happiest times was when she made her movie debut in the Kevin Kostner movie “The Bodyguard.”

Lynn Norment, former managing editor at Ebony Magazine, offers another close look at the superstar. She wrote nearly several on her career.

“At the core of her essence, she was very religious. Those are the things that were important to her: God, religion and family, and of course her talent,” Norment says.

Daniels attended the Grammys in Los Angeles and was looking forward to seeing Houston at the pre-Grammy party the night Houston died. Now, she’s making plans to attend her funeral service in New Jersey.