Berman: Priorities twisted at Jackson memorial

It's the final resting place of Motown greats, from the Temptations' David Ruffin to the Four Tops' Levi Stubbs to "Pip" Edward Patten. So you might understand how the Motown Historical Museum's leaders decided to accept a seemingly gracious offer from Woodlawn Cemetery: A headstone and grave at the unofficial Motown cemetery of choice for the remnants of the ad hoc, impromptu Michael Jackson shrine created by fans.

That's how two hearses, loaded with stuffed animals, accompanied by a police escort and an entourage of seven vehicles, became a bizarre funeral cortege last week.

Onlookers outraged

To many onlookers, the sight was an outrage: Couldn't these hundreds of Teddys and Corduroys and Poohs and Paddingtons be donated to a worthy children's charity?

"It's certainly something that went through my mind," said Patricia Rosen, executive director of the Oakland County's Child Abuse and Neglect Council in Pontiac. That group provides counseling for children who have suffered sexual abuse. Every child seen at the center can choose a teddy bear from a room filled with donated stuffed animals, and Rosen said children are always thrilled to walk into a virtual toy store. "It's the choice that makes their eyes light up," she said.

But Audley Smith, the museum's CEO, said the pile of stuffed animals and trinkets left by Jackson's devoted fans couldn't have served the needs of real-life children.

"They sat outside for three weeks, rain, sun, dampness, insects, maybe vermin," said Smith. "There was the scent of alcohol because some excited fans poured libations onto the pile."

As a parent, he added, he wouldn't have allowed these particular animals into his own house, "even after dry-cleaning. They were not salvageable."

'The most respectful way'

Woodlawn offered to take the items soon after Jackson's death, before he or other museum personnel even thought the pyramid of offerings would grow.

But Smith felt he had to honor the public commitment he made, early on, to those who left items at the museum, when he first accepted Woodlawn's offer of a crypt.

No one at the museum had ever experienced any similar outpouring of affection and love for previous Motown artists who had died. And Smith, who met Jackson in Namibia 10 years ago, is one of those who felt a personal connection to Jackson.

"It was a disposal in the most respectful way we could discern for these items," Smith said.

Even so, the memorial at Woodlawn now illustrates a confounding irony. People will willingly donate hundreds of toys to honor a deceased pop star they never met while surrounded by children hungry for love, for food and the very idea of being able to choose a new toy.

Laura Berman's column runs Tuesday and Thursday in print and Sundays online. lberman@detnews.com">lberman@detnews.com (313) 222-2032