Christy Baker remembers -- like a lot of women her age -- wanting to marry Michael Jackson when she was a little girl.
When news of the pop icon's death spread Thursday, the 29-year-old dancer and fitness instructor broke into tears.
On Tuesday, when the world said goodbye by watching a televised memorial from Los Angeles, Ms. Baker stole brief glances at her work television in the Sports Barn in downtown Chattanooga.
"I've cried all week," Ms. Baker said, clad in a red Jackson T-shirt. "I'm a dancer, so I just like everything about him."
Across town, locals gathered at restaurants and workplace televisions to watch the two-hour televised memorial service, which began at 1 p.m. EDT. Among those watching were Kevin Wiles, a server at Taco Mamacita on the North Shore, who viewed the tribute with his fiancee, Catherine DeFrancesca.
Staff Photo by Angela Lewis Kevin Wiles, right, a server at Taco Mamacita, watches the Michael Jackson memorial with his fiancee, Catherine DeFrancesca at Taco Mamacita on Tuesday afternoon.
New Covenant Fellowship Church senior pastor Bernie Miller said his home television was tuned in to the ceremony all day. He worked with Mr. Jackson from 1987 to 1994 as an executive with Sony Music's Epic Records subsidiary, and had met Mr. Jackson's mother and brothers.
"When I saw the black SUVs and the hearse traveling to the private ceremony, I think that's when I was most moved," he said.
He said he was "touched" by the comments made by celebrities at the memorial, especially when Mr. Jackson's brother, Jermaine, sang the song "Smile" while wearing a white, sequined glove on one hand, one of Mr. Jackson's trademarks.
"I would say that was the best part of it," said Leah Rhodes, 25, of Rossville, Ga. "It was hard to watch."
Ms. Baker said she was most interested in seeing the big names performing in honor of the King of Pop, a list that included Lionel Richie, Mariah Carey, Stevie Wonder, John Mayer and Chattanooga-born Usher Raymond. Considered by some to be a contemporary version of Mr. Jackson, Usher sang "Gone Too Soon," a song off the Mr. Jackson's 1991 album "Dangerous."
The most poignant tribute came from Mr. Jackson's daughter, Paris-Michael Jackson.
"I just want to say ever since I was born, Daddy has been the best father you can ever imagine. And I just wanted to say I love him so much," the 11-year-old said before bursting into tears and falling into the arms of his aunt, Janet Jackson.
"The way his daughter was crying, it was breaking my heart," said Sarah Mattoon, 20, of Rossville. "I can't believe he's dead."
ABOUT THE MUSIC
As much as Mr. Jackson was eulogized Tuesday, there has been plenty of negative news coverage to counter that, one pop-music professor said.
"My big concern in all the reaction to his death is that people are forgetting about his music, and that would be really too bad," said Paul Wells, director of the Center for Popular Music, an archive of recorded music at Middle Tennessee State University.
"I want to say that, after the memorial service today is past, that the discussion about Michael will get back to the music and stop being about all the other unfortunate aspects of his recent life," he said. "He was genius, and he did some amazing music."
Tim Purifory of Cleveland, Tenn., said his wife is more of an Michael Jackson fan than he, but the memorial service taught him about Mr. Jackson's charitable side.
"I found out he was very giving through charitable organizations," Mr. Purifoy said. "He was a humanitarian. I think he should be remembered not for his mistakes, but for his contributions."
Music stores continue to see high demand for Mr. Jackson's work. After his death last week, sales peaked at Chad's Records in downtown Chattanooga, but business has continued to be steady, said owner Chad Bledsoe.
"He's probably still our most consistently popular artist right now," Mr. Bledsoe said Tuesday. "A handful of people have been coming in every day since (his death)."
Mr. Jackson's work also continues to be very popular at online music sellers such as iTunes. On Web sites such as eBay, memorabilia is selling at a fever pitch. Mr. Jackson was a prolific autographer, signing albums up until just days before his death.
Erin Hankins of Chattanooga, who worked for Sony Records in the 1990s, said she's considered selling her autographed 1991 poster from the album "Dangerous." She never met Mr. Jackson; the poster was a gift from her boss.
"I've seen posters like it sell for $1,500 on eBay," said Erin Hankins. "That's a lot of money, I would be happy to have that."
But she hasn't decided if she should hold onto the poster, which she says she's only unrolled a handful of times in the 18 years she's owned it.
Editor Barry Courter and staff writers Casey Phillips and Emily Bregel contributed to this story.
