Fans in Gary, Indiana formed a prayer circle on the front yard of Michael Jackson’s modest childhood home on Thursday after word spread that the “King of Pop” and the Gary native had died.

Michael was born the seventh of nine children in Gary on Aug. 19, 1958. He was 11 years old when the family moved out of the city after the Jackson 5 recorded their first album in 1969.

Stuffed teddy bears and roses were left on the porch of the small white frame house where Jackson grew up, which now sits empty.

Bernetta Galloway of Gary said she headed straight to 2300 Jackson St. from her doctor’s office after hearing the news of MJ’s passing. The 50-year-old said residents are proud of the pop legend because he was “somebody from Gary who did something with their life.”