200 of the late Michael Jackson‘s family and closest friends convened at the Glendale Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, CA last night to pay their last respects to MJ at a small funeral/burial service exactly 70 days after he passed away on June 25. For the most part, the service was fairly quiet (even tho some of it was broadcast live on TV and all of it was filmed for possible inclusion in the upcoming A&E reality TV series The Jackson Family) and provided family and friends the opportunity to say their final farewells to the King of Pop:

Michael Jackson’s family and about 200 of their closest friends gathered on a hill Thursday evening for their final farewell to the pop singer, who died 10 weeks ago. Jackson’s burial may lay to rest some of the mystery and controversy that erupted with his sudden death on June 25. His large family was divided over where the superstar’s final resting place should be, but matriarch Katherine Jackson settled on a crypt inside the well-guarded and ornate Great Mausoleum at Forest Lawn cemetery in Glendale, California. Thursday’s service began 90 minutes past the announced start time, leaving dozens of celebrities — including Elizabeth Taylor — waiting in their seats for the 26 cars carrying the Jackson clan to arrive. It began with Jackson’s five brothers — each wearing a single sequined glove — carrying his flower-covered bronze casket onto the outdoor stage among six large bouquets of white lilies and white roses, along with green topiaries. His three children, led by daughter, Paris, 11, placed a crown atop their father’s coffin, which a family spokesman said it was “to signify the final resting place of the King of Pop.” Jackson’s children, parents and siblings took their seats in the front row, while his nieces and nephews filled several rows of white chairs behind them.

After an opening prayer by Pastor Lucius Smith, soul music legend Gladys Knight sang the gospel hymn “His Eye Is on the Sparrow.” Clifton Davis sang “Never Can Say Goodbye,” a hit he wrote for The Jackson 5 — the group that featured a young Michael and his brothers. What was said by Jackson’s father, Joe Jackson, and others who took the lectern is not publicly known, because the family barred news cameras from the ceremony. A family statement issued afterward said close friends and family, including the Rev. Al Sharpton, spoke “spontaneously to celebrate Michael’s life.” News helicopters hovering above captured video from a distance, but without sound. Lisa Marie Presley, one of Jackson’s former wives and the daughter of Elvis, attended the service, according to the family statement. It did not mention Debbie Rowe, Jackson’s second wife and the mother of his two oldest children. Macaulay Culkin, the “Home Alone” actor who spent time with Jackson during his Neverland Ranch days, was there with his girlfriend, actress Mila Kunis. Actors Corey Feldman and Chris Tucker were also seen arriving for the service. Motown founder Berry Gordy, who gave Jackson and his brothers their first big record deal, and Quincy Jones, who produced Jackson’s “Thriller” album, were there. Music producer Teddy Riley, who helped with Jackson’s 1991 “Dangerous” album, attended. The guest list included TV executive Suzanne de Passe, who produced a miniseries about Jackson’s family, and Kenny Ortega, who was producing Jackson’s comeback show. Thomas Mesereau, the lawyer who successfully defended Jackson in a child molestation trial, sat just behind the Jackson family. When the hour-long service ended, his brothers lifted Jackson’s casket for a final time to carry him inside the Great Mausoleum, where he was placed in his crypt at 9:43 p.m. PT (12:34 a.m. ET Friday). The family statement said it was “his final resting place.” The family and friends then drove to an Italian restaurant eight miles away, in Pasadena, California, for “a time of celebration.”

I watched most of the service as it aired live on CNN last night and found it a much more pared down service compared to the lavish service that took place at the Staples Center last July. I have to admit, I found the placing of the crown on the casket a bit odd but, that seems pretty de rigeur for any service honoring the memory of Michael Jackson. After all these weeks and months, tho, Michael Jackson is finally laid to rest … where he belongs.

[Photo credit: Getty; Source]

On July 1, we learned from Michael Jackson‘s will that his mother Katherine Jackson was decreed as the sole guardian of his children — Prince Michael Joseph, Paris Michael Katherine and Prince Michael Joseph II a.k.a. Blanket — and no mention was made of biological mother Debbie Rowe. Debbie took the matter to court to fight for custody of her children and for the past few weeks, negotiations have taken place behind closed doors to see if an agreement could be made on custody of the children. It’s been a bit back and forth but progress was made all the while. Today, Katherine‘s lawyer reveals that an agreement has been reached … Katherine will keep custody of the children on the condition that Debbie can have visitation rights. It’s also worth noting that it was made clear that NO MONEY was made part of the custody agreement:

Michael Jackson’s mother will get custody of the late pop star’s three children after reaching a agreement with her son’s ex-wife Debbie Rowe, a lawyer for Katherine Jackson told CBS News on Thursday. Rowe will have “meaningful visitation rights” with her two biological children with Jackson — Prince Michael, 12, and Paris, 11 — U.S. television networks CBS, ABC and NBC reported. The biological mother of Jackson’s third child, Prince Michael II, 7, also known as Blanket, has never been revealed. Jackson’s mother, Katherine, 79, was granted temporary custody of the children after his death on June 25. “It’s an agreement, an agreement for the best interests of the children. This is not a money deal. This is not about money,” Londell McMillan, Katherine Jackson’s attorney, said in a an interview on CBS News’ “The Early Show.” “All of the parties are resolved. There is no situation better for these children than for them to be raised and reared in the loving care of Mrs. Katherine Jackson,” he said. A court hearing in Los Angeles on custody of the children is scheduled for Monday. Jackson said in his 2002 will he wanted his mother to care for the children if he died. The “Thriller” singer left his estate, valued at $500 million in an attachment to his will, to a family trust that benefits his children, his mother and charities. “That estate is worth, in my estimation, a couple of billion dollars,” McMillan said, referring to the value of the estate if it achieves its potential earnings. “You hear $500 million. Don’t buy it.” The coroner’s report on the cause of the singer’s death is still awaiting toxicology and other test results. His burial arrangements have not been announced.

Sounds like a good deal to me … the kids get to stay with the only mother figure they’ve ever known and their biological mother gets to check in on them from time to time to ensure that they are being taken care of. I’m most pleased with the fact that Rowe wanted no monetary settlement as part of the deal (tho, the cynic in me isn’t totally convinced — Katherine‘s lawyer says, “This is not about money”, but that doesn’t expressly mean that money isn’t involved in secret — but I’ll give Rowe the benefit of the doubt). My concern is that at 79 (going on 80) years, Katherine will not be able to care for the children for as long as Debbie might … but something tells me that Debbie doesn’t really want to be a full-time mom anyways. We learned last week that the eldest Jackson sibling, Rebbie Jackson, will be the one to actually care for the children and help raise them … she sounds like the best option of all. Altho the homicide investigation into MJ‘s death has yet to be completed and the toxicology report from his autopsy has been released, at least we can take comfort in the fact that matter of custody of his children has been settled in a fair and equitable manner. On that account, MJ can finally rest in peace.

[Photo credit: Getty; Source]

TMZ reports that Katherine Jackson, matriarch of the Jackson family, has just filed legal paperwork with the court in an attempt to gain full legal guardianship of the late Michael Jackson‘s children — Prince Michael Joseph Jackson, Paris Michael Katherine Jackson and Prince Michael Joseph Jackson, II. Wasting no time and, apparently as a preemptive strike against biological mother Debbie Rowe, Katherine ensured that the paperwork was filed as soon as possible today:

A guardianship petition has been filed for Michael Jackson’s children by Katherine Jackson, the grandma. She is asking the court to appoint her as the guardian for all three kids. The petition states the kids have “no relationship with their biological mother.” According to the petition, the kids are in the care of Katherine and they have “a long established relationship.” The petition says the value of Michael Jackson’s assets are unknown at this time. Debbie Rowe is named as mother of two children in the petition. As for why Katherine thinks it would be “best” to appoint her guardian, “Minor children are currently residing with paternal grandmother. They have a long-established relationship with paternal grandmother and are comfortable in her care.” The petition says it’s “not known at this time” whether the mother (Rowe) agrees that Katherine should be the legal guardian. As for Prince “Blanket” Michael Jackson II — MJ’s third child — the box where it says “mother” is checked “none.” The DOB is listed as January 21, 2002. A hearing is now set for August 3 to hear the petition.

I would be remiss if I didn’t note that any assets that would go to Michael Jackson‘s children would go to the adult who has legal guardianship of his children. I am QUITE relieved that Katherine Jackson is the sole petitioner of this legal move to gain guardianship of the children because I honestly believe she has the children’s best interests at heart. It’s very telling that MJ‘s father, Joseph Jackson (the man who was bizzy promoting his record label on the red carpet at the BET Awards last night while others were honoring his dead son), is not listed on the paperwork. If Katherine is the sole guardian of these children, then I think that would be very good news, indeed. It’s no secret that Joe Jackson was a terribly abusive father to his children, one hopes that he will not be allowed to inflict the same terror on his grandchildren. Protect those babies, Katherine!

UPDATE: Katherine Jackson has been granted temporary guardianship of MJ‘s three children.

[Photo credit: Splash News; Source]