Rebbie jackson at memorial

This morning, the world watched and celebrated Michael Jackson’s life with a memorial service that took place in Los Angeles at the Staples Center, where Jackson had been rehearsing his “This Is It” tour. Police warned people to avoid the downtown area if they didn’t have tickets so I stayed in front of my TV like a dutiful citizen.

But a friend of mine, actress-singer Charlene Modeste, won tickets in a lottery to attend the service. I spoke to her afterwards about her emotional experience and she shared some details we didn’t get to see on TV, along with these photos she took. Charlene Modeste: I was up around six, turned on the news, saw people were already waiting to get in.

My friend lives downtown so I parked at my friend’s lot and we walked over…There were all these people selling Michael Jackson T-shirts, buttons, posters. Parking lots were $40. Everyone was really calm and respectful, there were cameras pretty much all over the place. Police were checking for wristbands and tickets. There were a lot of people but everyone was really subdued.

The Jackson Family Members

Michael Jackson’s Holmby Hills home on Thursday evening With Jackson’s family members and friends - including Rick and Kathy Hilton - pulling past security one by one, the legions of Michael’s supporters quickly amassed sprawling vigils in honor of the pop legend, who passed away from a heart attack earlier in the day.

With an autopsy already expedited, the Los Angeles Robbery and Homicide devision has been assigned to the high profile death to make sure everything goes smoothly. As for Michael’s three children, Prince Michael Jackson I, Paris Michael Katherine Jackson and Prince “Blanket” Michael Jackson II, a Jackson family lawyer named Brian Oxman says that they will likely to be looked after by Michael’s mom, Katherine Jackson.

Members of Michael Jackson's family told us the singer was given a "heavy dose of morphine" prior to his death, and family members were alarmed. We're told Joe Jackson recently wanted to put Michael in a rehab facility in Palmdale, California for what he considered an "addiction" to morphine and prescription drugs. Family members say they felt he was unable to perform for his upcoming concerts because of his drug use.