Vegas Buzz

The Associated Press

NASSAU, Bahamas -- Anna Nicole Smith — dressed in a designer gown, her coffin covered in a pink rhinestone-studded blanket — was buried in an extravagant funeral, but the fight over her baby and a potential large inheritance remains.

The reality TV star was mourned at a lavish memorial service on Friday, with her companion Howard K. Stern, her mother Virgie Arthur and her former boyfriend Larry Birkhead — all battling for custody of her 5-month-old Dannielynn — in attendance.

Smith's mahogany coffin, topped by the pink blanket with rhinestones spelling out her name, was carried into Mount Horeb Baptist Church as hundreds of tourists and fans watched from behind steel barricades guarded by police. Some in the crowd cried out "Anna! Anna! We love you!"

Inside the church, Smith's favorite color was on display. Pink roses and flower arrangements lined the aisle and adorned the altar, where organizers placed two photos of the blonde bombshell — including one showing her in a shimmering white gown and striking a Marilyn Monroe-like pose.

There were fewer than 100 guests at the service, even though an organizer said about 300, including an "Entertainment Tonight" camera crew, had been invited. Rock guitarist Slash, formerly of Guns N' Roses, was among the guests, and country singer Joe Nichols performed two songs, guests said.

Arthur, Birkhead and Stern took turns eulogizing the 39-year-old Smith, who died last month in a Florida hotel.

"It was pretty tough. The funeral itself was a mixture of emotions, there was a lot of crying and laughing," Birkhead, wearing a pink tie, told MSNBC after the service.

He also referred to comments Stern reportedly made at the service about the legal fight over custody of Smith's daughter.

"We were all given equal amount of time and that's how he chose to spend his time. I wouldn't have used my time that way. ... It doesn't make anything better," Birkhead said.

Kathryn Beranich, a supervising producer on Smith's reality TV show, said she thought Smith would have been happy with the ceremony.

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