Shaq Pays for N.C. Girl's Funeral

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (AP) -- NBA 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.

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Latest Shaq Snapshots

MAYFIELD, OH - NOVEMBER 22: Shaquille O'Neal of the Cleveland Cavaliers, as Shaq-A-Claus, pushes a cart full of toys he purchased during the annual toy drive at the Toys"R"Us on November 22, 2009 in Mayfield, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Shaquille O'Neal

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FILE - This undated file photo provided by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children shows Shaniya Nicole Davis. Basketball star Shaquille O'Neal has paid for the funeral of a 5-year-old North Carolina girl whose kidnapping and slaying garnered national news coverage. The Fayetteville Observer newspaper in North Carolina reported Thursday, Nov. 26, 2009, that the Cleveland Cavaliers player was touched by the case of Shaniya Davis. (AP Photo/National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, File) NO SALES

FILE - In this Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009 file photo, Cleveland Cavaliers' Shaquille O'Neal sits on the bench in the second quarter in an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz,, in Cleveland. O'Neal has paid for the funeral of a 5-year-old North Carolina girl whose kidnapping and slaying garnered national news coverage. The Fayetteville Observer newspaper in North Carolina reported Thursday, Nov. 26, 2009, that the Cleveland Cavaliers player was touched by the case of Shaniya Davis. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak, File)

Cleveland Cavaliers basketball player Shaquille O'Neal is pulled in a Radio Flyer wagon by Marine Gunnery Sgt. Kristopher, as Shaq shopped for toys at Toys R Us in Mayfield, Oh., on Sunday Nov. 22, 2009. Shaq donated $1,000 to the Marine Toys For Tots foundation. (AP Photo/The Plaindealer, Lynn Ischay) ** MANDATORY CREDIT **

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MAYFIELD, OH - NOVEMBER 22: Shaquille O'Neal (L) of the Cleveland Cavaliers, as Shaq-A-Claus, walks down an aisle buying toys alongside GYSGT. Kristopher Cortes for the annual toy drive at the Toys"R"Us on November 22, 2009 in Mayfield, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Shaquille O'Neal;Kristopher Cortes

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MAYFIELD, OH - NOVEMBER 22: SSGT. Jesse Brown and GYSGT. Kristopher Cortes push Shaquille O'Neal of the Cleveland Cavaliers, as Shaq-A-Claus, in a Radio Flyer wagon at the Toys"R"Us on November 22, 2009 in Mayfield, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jesse Brown;Kristopher Cortes;Shaquille O'Neal

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Cleveland Cavaliers' Shaquille O'Neal, center, jokes on the bench with Mo Williams, right, and Jawad Williams during an NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009, in Cleveland. O'Neal sat out the game with a shoulder strain but the Cavaliers won 114-108. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

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