Michael Rested in His New Home

Seventy days after Michael’s death, his body was laid to rest in a simple, private ceremony in a protected mausoleum.

This morning at 8:00 a.m. Tehran time, a farewell ceremony for Michael was held with his family and friends present at a mausoleum in Forest Lawn Park in Glendale, Los Angeles. Because the Jackson family did not arrive on time, the ceremony was delayed by an hour and a half. In a brief ceremony, guests accompanied Michael to his final home, where his golden casket was decorated with a jewel crown by his children.

Among the celebrities who attended were Elizabeth Taylor, Chris Tucker (from Rush Hour), Tatiana Thumbzen (Michael’s co-star in the video The Way You Make Me Feel), Barry Bonds, Cary Feldman, Thomas Mesereau (Michael’s defense attorney in the 2005 court case), Macaulay Culkin (from Home Alone), Miko Brando (Michael’s longtime friend and colleague, and the son of Marlon Brando), Barry Gordi (founder of Motown), Stevie Wonder, Lionel Richie, Quincy Jones (producer of Thriller), Lendell McMillan (attorney for the Jackson family), Susan de Passe (the discoverer of the Jackson Five about 40 years ago), Lisa Marie Presley (daughter of Elvis Presley and Michael’s former wife), Kenny Ortega (longtime friend and director of This Is It), Al Sharpton, and Jesse Jackson.

After the funeral ceremony ended—which lasted nearly an hour and a half—Michael’s mother, Katherine Jackson, appeared extremely tired and weak, to the point that she needed help to get into the car. She had also felt faint even before the ceremony began, upon entering the mausoleum.

One family member, who did not want to be named due to the sensitivity of the day, told the Associated Press that the ceremony was simple but impactful.

Guests who had been waiting in the open, landscaped lawn area next to the Hollywood Terrace mausoleum watched as the Jackson family arrived. Michael’s casket, adorned with fresh white flowers, was brought into the grounds by his five brothers and placed in front of the crowd, opposite the mausoleum whose interior is filled with masterful marblework.

When Michael’s brothers brought the casket out of the car, his former wife, Lisa Marie Presley, became overwhelmed and began to cry.

Members of the Jackson family filled the first five rows of seats.

The men of the Jackson family, including Michael’s two sons, wore black suits and red ties, along with armbands. The brothers also wore white, sequined gloves on their hands.

Although Paris and her two brothers, Michael Junior (12) and Prince (Blanket) (7), were calm for most of the ceremony, Michael’s 11-year-old daughter broke down in tears when her uncles—after the ceremony—carried her father’s casket into the mausoleum. Blanket also hid his face behind his father’s memorial booklet during the ceremony.

At the beginning of the ceremony held among the redwood trees, Michael’s children placed a jewel crown on the white and purple flowers that covered their father’s casket. Randy Jackson, their uncle, escorted them to the casket. The children then returned to their seats in the front row beside their grandparents. Paris did not repeat the moving and inspiring speech she had given at the July 7 ceremony, during which she had called Michael “the best dad in the world.” All three of Michael’s children were silent, calm, and strong, and according to guests, their father must have been proud of them.

Earlier, Marlon, the King of Pop’s brother, had said that letters from Michael’s three children—along with a sequined white glove—were placed in Michael’s casket and would be buried with him.

At the ceremony, Gladys Knight sang a song titled “His Eye is on the Sparrow,” and Clifton Davis performed “Never Can Say Goodbye,” one of the Jackson Five songs that he himself had written.

The Jackson family had invited friends to give speeches, and many of them spoke about the Jackson family’s journey—from poverty and obscurity to wealth and fame. They also mentioned Michael’s sense of humor, saying that if he were here today, he would surely be laughing and smiling.

Elizabeth Taylor expressed her grief over losing her longtime friend in emotional remarks.

“We shouldn’t have been here today. This shouldn’t have happened. He shouldn’t have died.”

Even Michael’s closest friends and professional partners—who usually don’t mix with cameras and media antics and had avoided the glamorous July 7 ceremony—showed up. Lisa Marie Presley, crying, hugged Katherine Jackson, her former mother-in-law and her current partner in grief. But among them, Elizabeth Taylor was the most impactful guest of the day, thanks to her long friendship with Michael.

Unknown friends of Michael were also among the speakers. One of them was a person named David Rothenberg, who as a child suffered burns covering 90% of his body, and Michael had cared for him for years.

One guest said: “He told us that (because of the accident) his entire body was wounded. He said Michael took care of him for years without asking for anything in return. It was very moving.”

Gladys Knight performed “Our Father,” a religious prayer, and according to guests, it caused many tears to flow.

Around where the casket was placed, two large photo boards of a young and vibrant Michael were set up, and there were also lilies and roses. At the grand ceremony for the King of Pop on July 7, his casket was decorated with red roses. That ceremony was broadcast live around the world to the eyes of one billion viewers.

Joe Jackson and Al Sharpton were among the speakers, along with the pastor and civil rights activist. Sharpton had delivered a captivating and influential speech praising Michael Jackson at the July 7 ceremony. His message today was:

“Michael brought people together. He had a pure nature. He was always strong and steadfast, and he had perseverance.”

“What MJ had to face was very unfair. In the end, he was the greatest artist forever. The winds were against him, but he kept going.”

Al Sharpton wrote on his Twitter page while the ceremony was still underway:

“I just spoke at the end of the ceremony. Gladys Knight sang an impactful song. Now we’re preparing for his burial.”

Siggy, the son of Jackie’s brother, also said: “Michael was magical. And it was Michael’s magic that brought us together tonight for this ceremony.”

In the end, Michael’s brothers carried the casket toward the grand building of the Hollywood Terrace mausoleum, and at 9:43 p.m. local time, Michael finally found peace in his final resting place. Paris, who had been crying, was comforted by her aunt Latoya. Katherine Jackson also became emotional when she entered the mausoleum building, her son’s eternal home, and turned her face away. According to one guest, it was unclear whether Katherine was ultimately able to go inside.

Some guests were allowed to say goodbye to Michael inside the mausoleum along with the casket. But one guest who was left behind said that until they were present, the casket had not been taken into the mausoleum. Therefore, only a small number of people know the exact location of Michael’s grave in this mausoleum, and perhaps his burial place will remain a secret for years to come.

One guest, referring to Davis’s performance of “Never Can Say Goodbye,” said: “At the end of the song, he said, ‘Michael, we can’t say goodbye. But what we can say is this: we love you.’ Those words shook my bones. For me, it was very emotional and very real.”

On Wednesday, it was announced that the Jackson family purchased 12 graves in this mausoleum.

For the delay in the start of the ceremony, no explanation was given to the guests. Seventy-seven-year-old Elizabeth Taylor and other close guests waited for the Jackson family’s arrival in the shade of the mausoleum building for nearly 90 minutes in the hot summer weather. Some guests fanned themselves with memorial booklets of Michael that had been placed on their seats in advance.

Police escorted the Jackson family’s convoy of 31 Rolls-Royces and Cadillacs from their home in Encino to Forest Lawn Park, a 20-minute drive away. At the end of this line, the vehicle carrying Michael Jackson’s casket moved forward.

On the invitation cards, the start time of the ceremony was announced as 7:00 p.m. In the landscaped lawn area of the mausoleum, about 250 seats were set up for guests, and on each seat there was a memorial booklet with a photo of Michael on the cover. An orange moon—symbolizing a large wildfire in the forests of California, about 10 miles from Forest Lawn—caught people’s eyes as they stared at the sky. A special filming spotlight and a camera installed overlooking the green lawn covered with the mausoleum’s white chairs made it seem likely that the funeral ceremony might also be used in a film, This Is It (the film of Michael’s rehearsals for concerts he was supposed to perform in London), which will be released next month, or in a performance featuring the Jackson brothers.

Scattered groups of fans stood along the route as the Jackson family’s cars passed from Encino toward near Forest Lawn Park. Police had warned days earlier about people gathering near the park and said strict security measures would be put in place. From Wednesday onward, helicopters and police dogs had been monitoring and checking the area around Forest Lawn. People respected the police request to stay at home, and no incidents or arrests were reported.

As expected, hours before the ceremony began on Thursday afternoon, news reporters and media members gathered in the area designated by police for them in front of the park, taking photos of the Jackson family’s cars and many stars who attended the ceremony. The reporters waited behind the entrance doors for these people to leave. The photos of today’s ceremony provided to the media were taken by a dedicated photographer.

About 400 people gathered in secure areas around Forest Lawn Park and waved at the passing cars. Maria, who was standing at a gas station near the park with other fans, asked a man who was inside a car and intended to enter the park while holding an invitation card to place his small pink flowers on the grave of the pop legend. She said she picked the flowers from a nearby park. “I know they’re small and ugly, but I picked them with all my heart. I can’t get close to that place. This is how I can be beside him.” The man agreed and replied, “God bless you.”

The Jackson family had reserved an Italian restaurant in Pasadena for the dinner after the burial. Sharpton said outside the restaurant around midnight:

“I feel like I witnessed Michael finally finding peace, and I made a commitment to myself to make sure his legacy—and everything he stood for—lives on. So we are comforted on one side, and on the other side we are committed and obligated.”

The burial put an end to months of media and public debate about whether Michael would be buried in Neverland—his former ranch and home. The idea of burying him in Neverland was raised by Michael’s brother Jermaine. But he had stubborn opponents within the family. Many in the Jackson family did not want Michael buried in Neverland because, in their view, Michael had grown to hate Neverland.

After accusations were raised against Michael, this home was raided by police in 2003 and 2005. Staff said that federal police caused extensive damage to the house, and images of that damage were released after Michael’s death. About 70 police officers, armed with weapons and ammunition, attacked the small Neverland house where no one was there. But they found nothing. In June 2005, Michael was acquitted of the charges. After the trial ended, Michael traveled to the Middle East, and after returning to the United States, he never went back to Neverland. The ranch was purchased by Michael in 1988 and had been turned into a public amusement park to entertain sick or disadvantaged children. Over the years, many families had lived in Neverland.

Taj (Toriano Adariel Jackson), Tito’s son and another of Michael’s brothers, told Time magazine that after hearing the news about the possibility of his uncle being buried in Neverland, he immediately called his grandmother Katherine to express his opposition. As it happened, Katherine agreed with him. Taj said that “the accusations and the police raid destroyed Neverland’s magic. I never thought of Neverland as a place for burial. Michael felt that Neverland was contaminated.”

Michael Jackson died on June 25 at the age of 50 from complete cardiac arrest. His body was subjected to two autopsies, and his brain was removed from his skull for complex toxicology tests. For a time, the forensic doctor’s office determined his death was a murder caused by the injection of a lethal amount of six strong sleeping drugs. Michael’s doctor, Conrad Murray, who carried out the injection, may face charges of involuntary manslaughter or second-degree murder. Investigations into the King of Pop’s death continue.

“Joe feels that people were trying to trick Michael,” said the guest who made that comment. “He said they will find out what caused his death, and they won’t stop working until the results are clear for them.”

Michael’s funeral invitation card had a beige cover with two black and brown ribbons. It read: “Michael Jackson: August 29, 1958 - June 25, 2009.” The invitation asked the invited person to be present at Forest Lawn Park by 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 3.

The invitation included printed images of Michael and excerpts from Dancing The Dream (Dancing the Dreams)—the book of Michael’s writings and poems, published in 1992:

“When you come into this world and when you leave this world, know that you are loved. Then you can deal with any problem that comes between these two times in your life.”

“In a world full of hatred, we must still hope. In a world full of anger, we must still comfort. In a world full of disappointment, we must still dream. And in a world full of distrust, we must still believe.”

And a recitation from Michael’s wonderful song titled Will You Be There:

“In our darkest hours, in my deepest despair, do you still care? Will you be there? In my hardships and pain, amid our doubts and failures, in my excitement, in my confusion, among my fears and confessions, in my longing and my aches, among my joys and my sorrows—hoping for another tomorrow, I will never leave you alone, because you will always be in my heart.”

The invitation said: “We loved him, we laughed with him, we sang with him, we danced with him. But on this day, we celebrate him.”

Many features of this park were to Michael’s liking. Forest Lawn resembles his Neverland. The splendor and grandeur of Hollywood, smooth hills, classic art, and many works by famous dead people. But first of all, the silence and security that were a priority for the Jackson family. It would bring them peace of mind to know that fans and the media would not disrupt the privacy of their brother and child. One person close to the family told Time magazine: “Security played a key role in the family’s decision. Randy Jackson (Michael’s brother) was tasked with thoroughly assessing the location in terms of its security index. They wanted to make sure Michael was protected at all times. This was a fundamental priority.”

In Forest Lawn, Michael joins Hollywood legends and works from the era of classical art in eternity. Among the famous guests at the park, Humphrey Bogart, Walt Disney, Jimmy Stewart, Spencer Tracy, Sammy Davis Jr., Clark Gable, Jane Harlow, Errol Flynn, Carol Lombard, George Burns and his wife Gracie Allen can be mentioned. In this park, churches are built in the general design of famous and old European churches. Sculptures copied from Michelangelo’s works and stained-glass inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper also stand out in this park. This very large stained-glass window, a tourist attraction, is located in the Hollywood Terrace mausoleum.

Michael’s tomb inside the Hollywood Terrace building—the mausoleum of the redwood trees—is one of the eleven buildings of the Forest Lawn Park cemetery, and it is adjacent to the tombs of Clark Gable, Jane Harlow, and Carol Lombard. The grave of the comedian, Richard Bernard, better known as Red Skelton, is not far away. They had been friends. One of Skelton’s friends said, “Red was very fond of Michael, and there’s no doubt he’ll be in high spirits when he finds out that in the eternal world they will be together again.” Another classic comedian is also close to Michael: William Claude Fields, known as W.C. Fields, whose only shared interest with Michael is the moon. Michael loved moon gazing, and Fields loved moonlight.

The mausoleums are equipped with closed-circuit cameras and are monitored throughout the day and night. Family members and acquaintances who want to visit their loved ones must pass a barrier of security personnel, surveillance cameras, and doors that open with codes. Therefore, getting close to the graves of celebrities in this mausoleum is impossible for ordinary people. An eyewitness said that after placing flowers on Jane Harlow’s gravestone, security personnel escorted him to the exit.

Forest Lawn Park will open to the public again starting Friday.

Source: eMJey / Time / AFP / AP