By Peter Bronson
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Cubie Davis has a message for Cincinnati: "You tell 'em I love 'em all," he said to all the generous people who donated to help his family bury his late wife, Katherine Davis, a hairdresser who was known to friends as "Punch."

Mrs. Davis was killed on Jan. 10 when her car was struck at a stop sign by a pickup driven by Clinton Vilardo, 21, of Price Hill. He was charged with vehicular homicide.

Both drivers were uninsured. Mr. Davis is out of work, recovering from surgery, and the family did not have enough money to pay for a funeral.

Last Friday their story was told in an Enquirer column, and the donations came pouring in.

"It has had a major effect," said Brent Miller of U.S. Bank, where the Katherine A. Davis Memorial Fund was set up.

As of Tuesday, he said, the account had gone from zero donations to $16,596.

A florist called to donate flowers for the funeral. And businessman Tom Schwartz called on Friday morning and offered to pay for the entire funeral.

By Friday afternoon, he had paid the $9,500 bill for the Davises.

When Mr. Davis heard the news, he broke down and cried. "Thank God," he said. "It's such a blessing."

Mr. Davis' daughter, Jasmine Teasley, 14, was injured in the accident along with two other teens who were coming home from a high school basketball game.

Levell Ricks, 15, and Teair Dawson, 17, remained in critical condition at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center Tuesday.

There are medical bills to pay, but now Mrs. Davis can have a funeral on Saturday at Spring Grove Cemetery, Mr. Davis said.

Mrs. Davis' mother, Norma Jean Hadnot, said, "I want to thank the whole world."

To make a donation, contact a U.S. Bank branch or call Brent Miller at 475-6071.