A little over a month ago the generosity and compassion of Fairhope rose to the occasion again. Our beloved Tomato Lady, Barbara Davis, was in serious trouble. She fell and tore her ACL and was told that she needed a knee replacement – a devastating blow since she had no insurance.

Without everyone's help, Fairhope was in danger of losing an icon who for 38 years had sold fresh fruits and vegetables on the corner of Church Street and Fairhope Avenue, but Fairhope’s greatest loss would be the smiles and good feelings that she gave away for free.

Fairhope came together to help Barbara and the “Tomato Lady Day Benefit” was born. One thousand tickets were bought for the barbeque and the bake sale sold out, as did 100 Tomato Lady T-shirts that were printed and donated by David Hurley.

Thanks to all who made it an overwhelming success, and a very special thanks to those special people who gave way over and beyond; Kelley Lyons of The Lyons Share Gallery, Jana Brower of Sandra’s Place and my wife Miriam for the Facebook page (that garnered more than 1,000 fans) and for handling the bank account that was graciously donated and administered by Ann Rumley and her staff at First National Bank of Baldwin County.

Clay and Judy Cox of Chaufees Catering and Courtyard on Gayfer Road Ext. who barbequed almost 600 pounds of mouth watering pulled pork for free. Now they are open for lunch.

Bob at Mary Ann’s Deli at Windmill Market for 35 gallons of coleslaw, Heavenly Creations Bakery on Fairhope Avenue for 1,000 rolls and, of course, Panini Pete of Panini Pete’s Café in the Fairhope French Quarter who arranged for Buffalo Rock Pepsi to donate all of the drinks and then he fixed 35 gallons of the best blackeyed pea salad you ever ate and, as if that wasn’t enough, grilled 1,000 pieces of corn on site. Meanwhile, the most talented band around, Roman Street, entertained the crowd for free.

Thanks is also due to Bill Baldwin of Fairhope Hardware, Jud Gillespie of PostNet, Sarah and Stephanie of the Cat’s Meow, Tamara of Tamara’s Uptown, Publix, Otto Stupka, Lydia Myers, Alan Pate of Keller Williams Realty, Richard Anderson, Howard Eddy and his boys, Ashton and Alex, Hannah Pate and Brett Lee.

I can’t say enough about the awesome work of Alex Robinson and Sherry Sullivan with the city of Fairhope, Gary Wolf of Wolf-Bayview Funeral Home for furnishing and putting up the canopies, and the many others who served, shucked and helped in so many ways.

There is also a special place in heaven for Dr John Rodriguez-Feo, M.D., who is donating the surgery, knee and rehabilitation, the little 'ol lady (that didn’t want to be identified) who walked into the bank and donated $10,000 and my co-conspirator Will, who always has my back. Mere words cannot say enough, so a simple THANK YOU will have to do.