Most people might feel connected to Michael Jackson after visiting his childhood home, but for Jaylynne Williams, it meant a little more.

“I grew up listening to MJ with my cousin,” said Williams, a Gary resident. “My cousin passed away in 2020, so MJ is a bigger part of me now.”

Williams on Thursday was just one visitor at 2300 Jackson St., celebrating what would’ve been Jackson’s 66th birthday. The King of Pop grew up in Gary, and hundreds of fans visit the home to celebrate his birthday.

Because she recently graduated college and moved to Gary, this was Williams’ first time visiting the Jackson family home. She said the artist’s birthday is more special because he’s from the city.

Most people wouldn’t expect a music legend to come from a smaller city, especially when Chicago is less than an hour away, Williams said. But, she believes that connection gives Gary residents more pride in their city.

“Being here just has a different type of feeling,” Williams added. “We have something so beautiful here. A legend came from here, and that just uplifts us and gives us hope that we’re worth something.”

She stopped by the house about 10:30 a.m. before work, but Williams said she planned on returning later with family.

Born and raised in Gary, Michaelo McCoy makes an effort to visit the site on Jackson’s birthday. McCoy thinks some of his family members knew the Jacksons growing up, which makes their ties to the city more special for him.

For McCoy, the family home is his roots.

“I’m into so many different types of music,” he said, “but to share this connection with MJ is a wonderful feeling.”

Ambria Lockett celebrated Jackson’s birthday with her daughter, Kameran Cooper. Lockett went to Theodore Roosevelt High School, which was close to the Jackson family’s home.

McCoy and his family also attended the high school. Both Lockett and McCoy think the connection brings them closer to the performer and his family.

Lockett wanted to take her daughter to the house to understand the performer’s importance.

“I wanted to show her where he grew up,” Lockett said. “She couldn’t believe that, literally, this is the house he grew up in.”

She frequently tells Cooper that people from all over the world come to Gary to see the Jackson family home. Lockett said she believes the Jacksons made the city better.

“Gary was really torn up when we heard about his passing,” she added. “Everybody all over the world was, but for us, it was more because they were here. This is where it started.”

Irma Ceballos, who’s from Midland, Texas, visited the home with her family on their way to watch her daughter play soccer in Chicago. The group didn’t plan the trip, and they learned on the way that today would’ve been Jackson’s birthday.

She had been a fan of Jackson for years, Ceballos said, and didn’t want to pass up an opportunity to see the house.

“Since it wasn’t that far, we decided to come here,” Ceballos said. “It just so happened to be his birthday.”

Antonio Brand, who lives in South Bend, didn’t know the significance Thursday held for Jackson’s fans. He was passing through Gary on his way to Chicago.

But, for Brand, the visit was even more special once he learned.

“Oh, man, it’s an unreal experience,” he said. “To see the locks and other people who’ve been here before me and showing their condolences, that’s really cool. It’s really special.”

mwilkins@chicagotribune.com