“Mom did not really like his music, but she once bought the red leather jacket like the one he wore,” Williams said. “She had no idea but we did. The eight of us tried to share that one jacket.”

Fan Herbert Brinson started watching Jackson on Saturday night television and liked the way he sang and danced.

“‘Thriller’ was the first of his albums I bought, but I have the majority of his music. That album was great and I loved the song ‘Billy Jean.’ He had the choreography, the moves and the voice, all at the same time: the total package.”

Brinson, 41, even toyed with the idea of trying to be a singer because of Jackson’s influence, but said he did not have the vocals or the moves for it.

Mayhall, 57, has used some of the Jackson 5’s songs in past half-time shows.

“I think it was done very tastefully and very professionally,” he said of Jackson’s music. “I think the album ‘Thriller’ was a landmark album and really set the standard for pop music.”

Mayhall’s favorite tune of Jackson’s is “We Are the World.”

“I think that was a great fund-raiser to help feed hungry people,” he said. “My memory of him will be of him helping the charity.”

Tonkin said she never really believed all the negative press about her childhood idol.

“I felt like it was not the way it seemed. I think he got a lot of bad publicity, but you just cannot top ‘Thriller;’ it’s still here.”

Williams also did not believe the rumors.

“I take child molestation very seriously — I’m an advocate here in Thomasville — and he was found not guilty,” she said. “I do think he overstepped his boundaries and made some poor choices.”

Brinson said it took him a while to get adjusted to the “new Michael,” due to his skin changing colors because of the sickness Jackson had, but he never stopped being a fan.

“It was hard for me to believe all the rumors and I think probably what was happening there is he did not have a whole lot of childhood. I think he wanted to go back and do some of the things he never had the chance to experience as a child.”

Andrews never believed the gossip.