Shaq pays for N.C. girl's funeral

[DemocratSinceBirth]

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- Basketball star Shaquille O'Neal paid for the funeral of a 5-year-old North Carolina girl after being moved by national news coverage of the case of Shaniya Davis, who police say was kidnapped and killed.

The Cleveland Cavaliers player was touched by the stories he saw and got in touch with the family to see what he could do to help, a spokeswoman for O'Neal said Thursday.

More than 2,000 people attended the girl's funeral Sunday. Her body was found Nov. 16 beside a rural road.

Her mother, Antionette Davis, who had reported the child missing six days earlier, is charged with human trafficking and child abuse involving prostitution. Mario McNeill is charged with murder, rape and kidnapping in the case.

"I was sitting at home watching it on the news and the story brought a tear to my eye," O'Neal told The Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper.

Corey Breece, of Rogers and Breece Funeral Home, which handled the service, declined to tell the Fayetteville Observer newspaper how much it cost but added that a child's funeral "averages around $4,500."

A man who answered the phone at the funeral home Thursday told the AP that only the owner could comment and that he was away.

Shaniya Davis' father, Bradley Lockhart, and his family had set up a trust fund in memory of Shaniya to help raise money to pay for the funeral. Lockhart was not available to talk Thursday, said a man who answered the phone at his home.

O'Neal is recovering from a shoulder injury that has sidelined him for six straight games since getting hurt Nov. 12 against Miami.



http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4691565

[tularetom]

1. IIRC this isn't the first time he's done something like this

He done good!

[Blue_Tires]

12. he also famously paid for the funeral of the NBA's first big star

George Mikan, who ironically in the age of hundred-million-dollar athletes, lived penniless in his last years of declining health...

Shaq is reportedly very generous with his $$$$...It is also widely believed that he keeps many more of his charitable gifts anonymous....

[Hawaii Hiker]

15. I remember that..Think he was still w/Miami at the time

and after a game on TV, he told reporter he wanted to pay for Mikan's funeral..

Shaq is one of the most likeable athletes EVER....Not just his genorosity, but he always comes across so fun loving & easy going on interviews, shows, etc....

Definitely one of the good guys..

[99 Percent Sure]

2. No, it isn't the first time - far from it.

He continues to assist Katrina victims to this day through building homes for those displaced, I think in both his home state of Louisiana and in Texas.

He's done other large and small charitable deeds over the years.

[ShortnFiery]

3. I get an impression of Shaq ... every time I hear him speak, that he's truly a caring soul.

Of course, my impressions are sometimes wrong, but he seems like the genuine article. :-)

[Warpy]

7. You find enlightened people in the oddest places.

Oh, they're rarely perfect, just enlightened.

Treasure them when you find them in real life. They're rare.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

5. I Thought He Was Born In TX And Played Basketball At LSU

~

[proteus_lives]

4. A touching gesture.

It's nice to see.

[juno jones]

6. Thanks Shaq!

You're a mensch.

[devilgrrl]

8. That man is total CLASS.

When he was with the Lakers there was a horrible incident where a mentally challenged teenaged girl was being abused by her family. She was rescued by relatives and the parents are still on the loose.

Shaq found out that the girl was a big Lakers fan and he gave her the grand tour of the franchise which included limousine service, courtside seats, autographed jerseys and basketballs, etc.

What a sweet man.

[Obamanaut]

10. Yup, a class act indeed. nt

[Bluebear]

14. absolutely

[frylock]

9. shaq is good people..

great story.

[PeaceNikki]

11. He's a neat guy.

:)

[varelse]

13. K&R

thank you for posting something good about a fellow human being.