In anyone’s life who stands by you in the formative period of your career is truly holding ground. It often reverberates that behind any successful man, there is a woman. While you listen to Ray Charles, it reminds you of this musical genius whose iconic voice brought revolution to American music.
When we talk about him, the name of his wife often remains overshadowed. Here in the article, I shed light on Della Beatrice Howard Robinson, whose role in the struggling period of her husband is impressive, and how she raised her three children remains unheard of to many.
Here in the elivestory article, I will uncover everything about her life from her early career to meeting up with Ray and much more. Are you truly curious to know more about her? Go through the blog to know it better.
Table of Contents
Quick bio of Della Beatrice Howard Robinson at a glance
| Real name | Della Beatrice Howard Robinson |
| Gender | Female |
| Nickname | Bea |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Afro-American |
| Year of birth | 1929 |
| Age (as of 2026) | 96 |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Marital status | Divorced |
| Husband | Ray Charles Robinson |
| No of children | Three |
| Name of children | Ray Charles Robinson Jr. (born 1955)David Robinson (born 1958), and Reverend Robert Robinson (born 1960) |
| Place of birth | Richmond, Texas |
| Profession | Gospel singer, homemaker |
| Net worth | ~$15 million |
How important were the early days- decoding the facts
Let’s glance over her early days and her familial condition, which tremendously influenced her perspective on life. Born in 1929 in Richmond, Texas, Della Beatrice Howard Robinson, also known as Bea, grew up when racial discrimination was prevalent in the US. She was born to parents who had never been married.
The strained relationship between her parents put enough pressure on her in the early days. Her parents parted ways some years after her birth, due to which she was raised by her mother. She never saw her estranged father, and thus, this incident instilled a particular conscience within her. She learnt to live life on her own terms and to be independent.
Education and the Backdrop of Life’s Harsh Realities
Talking of her educational background, Della Beatrice Howard Robinson went through local schooling in Richmond. She grew up on an 80-acre property of her mother, where she spent a significant portion of her childhood. Her spending time on the farm teaches her a tough but powerful lesson, a lesson for her to remain resilient in tough times.
She knows her mother’s contribution to her life, together with how her father left her, who was estranged. She studied till the fourth standard, before she had to eventually put a stop to her schooling and take over familial responsibilities.
However, in spite of facing such difficulties at such a young age, Bea stood strong and found music as her comfort. She became inclined particularly towards the genre of Gospel music, which in turn shaped her career in the future.
Her Enchanting & passionate love for Gospel Singing
Della Beatrice Howard Robinson embarked on a professional musical journey in her teenage years when she came across the choir group of the church of Cecil Shaw. This event turned out to be a breakthrough for her, as this was the moment that determined her future in her singing career.
Throughout her musical journey, she did not chase after success or financial gain. Her goal was to master music as a medium through which she could express her joy and emotions through every single nuance of melody.
While in the choir, Bea used to sing in churches as well as on the radio, which brought her some recognition. Her journey in this musical genre proved to be of much significance, which brought about newer opportunities as well as recognition in her locality. His passionate love for Gospel singing bears witness to how one can attain success in life without ever chasing after stardom.
Her Acquaintance With Ray Charles
Della Robinson came across Ray Charles in Houston, Texas, in 1954. They met at a time when both of them were doing well in the music industry, although their musical genres did not entirely align.
They made a connection upon meeting, which was due to Bea’s charming personality as well as comforting nature. According to him, Bea was not among those who pitied Ray for his premature blindness. This led to a connection between the two of them, and as a result, meetings became almost regular. And just after a short span of time, they announced that they are dating.
Their meetings were not just driven romantically- it was rather collaborative as well. This is because at that time, Ray was experimenting with his way through blending different musical genres such as Gospel, jazz, and blues, and Della Beatrice Howard Robinson was proficient in the genre of gospel music.
The Marriage: A Big Move for Della Beatrice Howard Robinson
Della Robinson and Ray Charles got married informally on the 5th April, 1955. Why informal? The marriage took place in n Texas in 1955 in a private ceremony. The marriage seemed to be prosperous and was filled with happiness.
Ray and Bea had their first child, Ray Charles Robinson Jr., in May 1955- just a few weeks after their marriage- which suggests that the two were not too serious when it came to keeping their professional and personal lives segregated.
| Family of Della Beatrice Howard Robinson with Ray Charles | |
| Spouse | Ray Charles (m. 1955-1977) |
| Date of marriage | 5th April 1955 |
| Children (if any) | 3 |
| Name of children (biological) | Ray Jr. (1955), David (1958), Robert (1960) |
Marriages work well when we keep our personal and professional relationships separate from each other. This marriage was indeed prosperous initially. This can be considered as a rift for different factors between the couple, which eventually led to the end of a bond of more than two decades.
Why Della Beatrice Howard Robinson decided to walk away from 22-years relation
Well, what could have been the possible factors behind the duo’s separation and eventual divorce after a long span of 22 years? It is truly difficult to accept that even a 22-year marriage can fall apart, isn’t it? Let’s see in detail.
Poor Management of Publicity by the Duo
Della Robinson and Ray Charles were, to an extent, incompetent when it came to tackling their fame and not letting it into their personal lives. Ray’s bustling fame led to the discovery of newer and perhaps inappropriate information surfacing in the media.
Bea had to bear the consequences as a result, facing the rather intense media scrutiny.
Extramarital Affairs
Ray Charles was quite infamous for his extramarital affairs, and this caused a rift between Della Robinson and him. Despite being the father of three children, her husband indulged in numerous affairs.
It was reportedly alleged that her husband is having an affair with Mary Ann Fisher. Not only that, the names of Margie Hendricks as well as Mae Mosely Lyles also surfaced regarding this matter.
Ray’s Heroin Addiction
Additionally, Ray has an addiction to substance abuse (namely, heroin). Meanwhile, it has led to him being ill-tempered as well as being in deteriorating health conditions. Her husband failed to realise that Bea had left her career to take up responsibility for the family, and his nonchalance regarding this matter increased conflicts within them.
Divorce, life after divorce, and later on
The marriage of Della Beatrice Howard Robinson and Ray Charles had deteriorated to such an extent that it was seemingly beyond repair. And that is exactly what happened- unable to endure any more, Bea filed for a divorce in 1976.
Eventually, they got divorced in the year 1977. Twenty-two years of togetherness were smothered by external factors- and thus ended what could have been a prosperous “till death do us part” story.
Following the divorce, Bea Robinson raised her three children, namely Ray Jr., David, and Robert, under her judicial custody. She received alimony as a part of her divorce settlement to raise her children, although the exact amount is yet undisclosed. And she did quite the right thing, needless to say- sometimes you need to value yourself instead of enduring the unjust.
As of where she is now, she was last seen in 2010 in Riverside County. She was in good health back then. But ever since 2010, she has not disclosed her whereabouts, and the media has drifted its interest away from her over time.
Hence, we don’t really have an idea about where she is or how she is- and perhaps this is how we should be keeping it, for everyone deserves some privacy.
Wrapping up
You see, Ray Charles’ second wife has profound significance in the life of Ray. It would be unjust to remember her solely as the ex-wife of Ray Charles; she was much more than that. It was her resilience and strength that helped her sustain a living in her earlier days. We could also see her sacrificial nature for her love- she had been enduring everything while she was married.
She was someone who faced some personal struggles with married life, and yet she sought to endure it for more than twenty years. This shows her grit for her love. Bea’s story gives us the lesson that we should always value those who are around us, supporting us in times of distress.
And as it was said before, behind every successful man, there is a woman. She deserves credit for helping her husband out in times of distress and nurturing a short-lived, happy family with him.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the year of birth of Della Beatrice Howard Robinson, and what would be her present age as of 2026?
Della Beatrice Howard Robinson was born in 1929, and as of 2026, she would be 96 years old.
Is Della Robinson still alive?
Her current status remains undisclosed with no publicly accessible updates.
How many children did Della have with Ray Charles?
Della had three children with Ray Charles, namely Ray Jr. (1955), David (1958), and Robert (1960).
