Mourners begin arriving for Jackson burial service

Under a tight cordon of security, a steady stream of luxury cars ferried guests to Forest Lawn Memorial-Park in Glendale this evening for the final leg of pop singer Michael Jackson’s odyssey from death to burial.

Longtime Jackson friend Elizabeth Taylor, who was whisked through the 25-foot-high cemetery gates in a Maybach, was among an expected 200 guests at Jackson’s sunset burial service on a hot night exactly 10 weeks after he was found dead.

The Rev. Jesse Jackson, the Rev. Al Sharpton, actor Macaulay Culkin, baseball player Barry Bonds, comic Chris Tucker and lawyer Thomas A. Mesereau, who successfully defended Jackson on charges of sexual molestation four years ago, arrived to take their places on white chairs lined up for the outdoor service in the tree-dappled, verdant park.

Glendale police blocked off streets around the 300-acre cemetery, and the sprinkling of fans who showed up were relegated to standing behind barricades blocks away.  A dozen fans held up a banner reading “King of Pop Michael Jackson Gone Too Soon.”

Jackson is to be interred in a crypt in Holly Terrace, one of 11 halls in the Great Mausoleum, Forest Lawn’s vast granite-and-marble-filled palazzo that serves as the star-studded resting place of Clark Gable, Jean Harlow and other screen legends.

The outdoor service will move into Holly Terrace for a cryptside finale. 

The Jackson estate is footing the bill for the service, which has been called by a lawyer for the estate “extraordinary” but worth paying.  At least $120,000 will go to cover the Glendale Police Department’s expenses — and that’s just a fraction of the costs.  The bulk of the expenses will go to Forest Lawn.

—Chris Lee and Carla Hall

Comments

[Cyndy]

Still rings of great sadness. A void lies within and cannot be filled.

[Cris]

I will miss him so much. I just wonder why there's such a tight security on his burial?
I will love Michael Jackson till I'll leave this world and to the world beyond.

[David]

Move on folks, there is nothing to see here, the poor guy is gone, let him rest.
Now maybe the LA Times can get back to news that affects the rest of us that are still here and alive.

What about 4 months of coverage for the two fire fighters that lost there lives trying (unselfishly) to find a safe evacuation route for the inmate firefighters.

Hero's die every day...who remembers them?

[Sharnee]

Goodbye Michael.

[TamarS]

what's wrong with you people? Bury his body. It is not HIM anyomre. This is grotesque and disrespectful. For goodness sake bury him! This just proves how much he was used by his family as well as others. Stop using him! Bury his body and get on with your own lives!! Geeeez this is digusting. What a crazy family.

[Irma Ayala]

He may have died but he left a lot of his music history. Now we are paying him back by honoring him in his burial

[Aimee]

Why is it that the public mourners care about being on time to the funeral than the king of pops own family?

[Laura]

RIP Mr. Thriller,
I almost forgot how great you were in the Bizz....
Tonight, LaToya in a driven limo seated alone? Like she can afford that!
I think the Jackson siblings need to get over M's money, and Grandma should see to it!
M's childrens lawyer, watch out, the bro's and sister(s) farther are looking to lot M's bank account!

[Edo]

He will be missed, i liked many songs particulalry 'Billie Jean'. Glad the taxpayer does not have to pay for the costs (now that our state is bankrupt for spending billions in illegal aliens)

[shirley]

michael i will all love your music and you so r.i.p

[Jen Raub]

Anyone want to take 3 to 1 odds that his crypt is busted into and his body taken with in the next month? Even money on someone at least arrested for attempting it.

[RJS]

Rest in peace Michael. I know that there are many other issues that are more important to the world, but his untimely death still makes so many of us sad. Inspite of all the troubled and tragic aspects of his life, his music, talent, spirit and soul touched so many of us. He was a force. Let's try to carry on the good-look at the Man in the Mirror and make a change for the better as We are the World, and only we can Heal The World. Michael, of this, take solace in knowing, many of us will carry on.

[petci]

Tight security was very much needed cuz the popstar had a lot of haters. i will mis him so so much.

[ARISTOTELIS]

WE WILL MISS YOU MICHAEL JACKSON SO MUCH.......YOU ARE THE BEST.......GOODBYE.......

[Pamela]

Rest in peace

[Pamela]

Rest in peace Michael!

[Anne Holingsworth]

Michael may you rest in peace..and some people here are rude.. He was a great signer and artists.. He had a quility of talent that most of us don't have.

[walterdunivin]

michael jackson was a great gift to music artist all over the world i enjoyed his entertainment so much he was truly a king i will never forget his love and great talent we love you michael jackson and you'll always be in our hearts

[Adri]

Good bye Michael.... thanks for making my life so wonderful... I'll never forget what u learned from u... !!!

[lilmikE tHAkiD schwalger]

r.i.p to the legendary king of pop

[MELISSA]

I LOVED MICHAEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Lydia Giménez]

I will miss you, Michael, but you'll be alive in our hearts!
Lydia from Barcelona, Spain

[jane]

Michael Jackson is worth reporting about. He has so much to learn from. His unequalled singing talent, unequalled dance talent, unequalled wierd beahviours, his money making abilities. So so much to learn about him. Think of the managers who made but also destroyed him.

One thing I know for sure is that had jackson put faith in Jesus, he would have lived longer and registered much more success in life. Uganda

[Michael]

I love you Michael Jackson, you left us much too soon.

My thoughts are with the Jackson family and all of his close friends. Lamentably, the millions of fans around the world who revered this extraordinarily innovative performer like myself will never have the chance to go pay our respects to him.

RIP MICHAEL JACKSON

[bethany]

i will miss him sooo much i love him with all my heart.R.I.P mj miss you forever