Paris Jackson wept as she stepped into the mausoleum where her father, Michael, was to be entombed. Katherine Jackson, overcome by sorrow, turned back when she was faced with her son's final resting place.
On a sultry Thursday evening, amid a sea of white flowers and with a bejeweled crown placed atop his casket by his children, the King of Pop was given an intimate, private version of the lavish public memorial held shortly after his death in June.
Gladys Knight performed the hymn "Our Father" (The Lord's Prayer) and moved many to tears, according to one guest who asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the day.
The Rev. Al Sharpton, who gave a eulogy at the public event and at Thursday's service, also extolled Knight's earlier performance of "His Eye is on the Sparrow."
"Gladys Knight sang her heart out. Now we prepare to lay him to rest," Sharpton posted on his Twitter account during the service that was held outside and then within the marble mausoleum.
The mourners followed the crowned, lushly flower-draped casket as Jackson's five brothers _ each wearing a bright red tie and a single crystal-studded glove _ carried it into the mausoleum. The 11-year-old Paris cried as the group entered the imposing building and was comforted by her aunt, LaToya.
Paris and brothers Prince Michael, 12, and Prince Michael II, 7, known as Blanket, began the service by placing the crown on their father's golden casket. They were composed through most of the hour-and-a-half ceremony.
As it ended, Katherine Jackson appeared extremely weary and had to be helped to her car, according to the guest. Earlier, she had a difficult time going into the mausoleum; she was overcome, turned back, and it wasn't clear if she went in at all, the guest said.
The Jackson family's tardy arrival delayed the service for nearly two hours; no explanation was given to mourners. The invitation notice indicated the service would begin promptly at 7 p.m.; it began closer to 8:30.
The 77-year-old Taylor and others were left waiting in the late summer heat, with the temperature stuck at 90 degrees just before sunset, and some mourners fanned themselves with programs for the service. As darkness fell, police escorted the family's motorcade of 31 cars, including Rolls-Royces and Cadillacs, from their compound in Encino to Forest Lawn, about a 20-minute journey, with the hearse bearing Jackson's body at the end.
About 250 seats were arranged for mourners over artificial turf laid roadside at the mausoleum, and a vivid orange moon, a mark of the devastating wildfire about 10 miles distant, hung over the cemetery.
There were two oversized portraits of a youthful, vibrant Jackson mounted next to the casket amid displays of white lilies and roses. At Jackson's lavish public memorial, red roses covered his casket.
A large, blimp-like inflated light, the type used in film and television production, and a boom camera hovered over the seating area placed in front of the elaborate marble mausoleum. The equipment raised the possibility that the footage would be used for the Jackson concert documentary "This Is It," or perhaps the Jackson brothers' upcoming reality show.
More than 400 media credentials were issued to reporters and film crews who remained at a distance from the service and behind barricades. The few clusters of fans who gathered around the secure perimeter that encircled the cemetery entrance struggled to see.
Maria Martinez, 25, a fan from Riverside, Calif., who was joined by a dozen other Jackson admirers at a gas station near the security perimeter, gave a handful of pink flowers she had picked at a nearby park to a man with an invitation driving into the funeral.
"Can you please put these flowers on his grave?" she told him. "They were small and ugly, but I did that with my heart. I'm not going to be able to get close, so this is as close as I could get to him."
The man consented, adding, "God bless."
Glendale police said all went smoothly and there were no arrests.
Jackson will share eternity at Forest Lawn with the likes of Clark Gable, Jean Harlow and W.C. Fields, entombed alongside them in the mausoleum that will be all but off-limits to adoring fans who might otherwise turn the pop star's grave into a shrine.
The closest the public will be able to get to Jackson's vault is a portion of the mausoleum that displays "The Last Supper Window," a life-size stained-glass re-creation of Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece. Several 10-minute presentations about the window are held regularly 365 days a year, but most of the building is restricted.
The Jackson family had booked an Italian restaurant in Pasadena for a gathering Thursday night, and family members and guests were seen coming and going late into the night.
"I feel like I watched Michael finally given some peace and I made a commitment to make sure his legacy and what he stood for lives on," Sharpton said outside the restaurant around midnight. "So at one level we're relieved; another level we're obligated."
The ceremony ends months of speculation that the singer's body would be buried at Neverland Ranch, in part to make the property a Graceland-style attraction. An amended copy of Jackson's death certificate was filed Thursday in Los Angeles County to reflect Forest Lawn as his final resting place.
In court on Wednesday, it was disclosed that 12 burial spaces were being purchased by Jackson's estate at Forest Lawn Glendale, about eight miles north of downtown Los Angeles, but no details were offered on how they would be used.
The King of Pop died a drug-induced death June 25 at age 50 as he was about to embark on a comeback attempt. The coroner's office has labeled the death a homicide, and Jackson's death certificate lists "injection by another" as the cause.
Dr. Conrad Murray, Jackson's personal physician, told detectives he gave the singer a series of sedatives and the powerful anesthetic propofol to help him sleep. But prosecutors are still investigating, and no charges have been filed.
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My Story INSURANCE REFOM
DOCTORS AND DRUG COMPANIES ARE MONEY CRAZED Yes they want to keep this high cost drugs and fees like it is, I know, because I went to a doctor last month for my knee and the doc ask me did I want a MRI ON BOTH KNEES, did not know what to say, since he was the doctor, so I got one knee done, the knee that was hurting, but when I got the statement from my insurance I understood why he wanted- to do both knees---- that would have been $2,800 leaving me with a $600 copy ,which was not explained to me at the time of this procedure, what I am saying is this, these doctors and drug company are milking the insurance co and Medicaid for all they can get, you go in and TRY to tell the doctor what wrong and they start putting you on all type of drugs that can kill you and giving you all types of high cost procedures and don’t explain any cost at all. Which leave a patient with a cost they can't pay then they put this on the credit reports and lower your fica score -so you are dammed if you do and you are dammed if you don’t, yes something has to change with the way this medical crisis.. It need reform and hope and pray that some one or some body change it. SOME OF THESE DOCTORS HAS SOLD OUT TO THE ALL MIGHTY $ AND RITE DOWN WITH THESE DRUG COMPANIES SO I AM WITH MR OBAMA TO CHANGE THIS MESS I HOPE HE CAN GET INSURANCE REFORM SOON AS POSSIBLE ANGELINA THOMAS
Former U.S. attorney general, a U.S. senator from New York and a presidential candidate in 1968. Assassinated in Los Angeles, 1968. Married in 1950 to Ethel Skakel. They had 11 children.
JEAN KENNEDY SMITH, 1928-
Served five years as ambassador to Ireland in the Clinton administration. Married Stephen Edward Smith in 1956; he died in 1990.
EDWARD MOORE KENNEDY, 1932-2009
U.S. senator from Massachusetts since 1962. Married VirginiaJoan Bennett 1958; divorced 1983. Married Victoria Reggie in 1992.
Father God, in the mighty name of Jesus of Nazereth, may the words of this message take flight to the hearts of all those that you ordain to receive it. May it find its place in those hearts and take root to grow in fertile soil. May your love be shed abroad to loosen bonds and break the fetters that hold your dear children so tight. Amen
To you my child I would say, "You are likened unto a ship whose cargo is to heavy and has began to sink. Why do you carry the burdens that were never intended for you to carry? Do you not know that I have come to bear that load for you? Why do you suffer such things when I am here for you? I am come to set the captive free! These weights upon you are too hard. Never have I ask you to carry such a load, but I have told you to cast them upon me.
My child, I have always been with you, and I am here now. I but only wait for you to give to me your burdens. Are you not weary? Do you not grow faint? The enemy would have you believe that you are alone. He would have you believe that a good servant would carry such burdens for his master. The truth is, he is the master of those burdens. Why carry them for him? Weight is put upon to hold something in place, and that is what the enemy is trying to do to you. For if he can get you to carry this weight then you CAN NOT do the things that I have called you to do. Satan is trying to hinder you from your kingdom work with the weight of the world.
Child of mine it is time for your freedom. It is time for your release. Please do not wait further. Now is the time! Call on me now. Give to me now the weights, burdens, and cares that have so long been laid upon you. You no longer have to carry them. Call, and i will rush to lift you. I will remove this yoke of bondage. Then you will be able to take flight. You will soar as the eagle. There shall be no restraints upon you. Nothing shall be able to hold you down. This is my desire for you.
Come child open your heart unto me. Let me in that I may succour you now for we have not much day left. The night is coming soon. Lay down these burdens that you may help others to see the light of true freedom and peace. The day is far spent, and you have much work to do. Many are they that perish, and I need you. I need you to be my voice, my hands, my feet, and above all my heart. Do not tarry for many rest in the balance, and how shall you show them my love, peace and freedom when you are burden down yourself. Whatever your burden may be; sin (child a clean and pure heart before me is a must! Do not hide anything from me, but bring it to the light for sin brings unbearable weight and consequences), family, finances, depression, health, the future, whatever you carry now let it become mine. I carried them all to the cross, now you must leave them there once and for all.
As you now call I receive all that you will give to me. Allow me now to raise you back to your feet and plant you atop the mountain of God. I love you my child, I release you my child, I now deliver you my child as you pray. Feel my love and power go through you.
FOR YOU ARE FREE! And he whom the Son sets free is free indeed.
TIMOTHY WEBB
MICHEAL JACKSON,AND ANY AND ALL MEN OF COLOR
