Most people know about Ray Charles Robinson, the music legend who helped create soul music. But not many people know about the woman who stood by him for over twenty years. Her name is Della Beatrice Howard Robinson, and her story is emotional and inspiring.
She went through love, pain, music, and fame. But instead of getting the public’s attention, she chose a quiet and peaceful life. Curious to know more? Keep reading! In this article, we’ll discuss everything about Della Beatrice Howard Robinson — her early life, her singing career, and how she met and married Ray Charles. Let’s get started and learn more about Ray Charles’ ex-wife.
Quick Facts About Della Beatrice Howard
👤 Full Name: Della Beatrice Howard Robinson
🎵 Also Known As: Bea Robinson
🎂 Birth Year: 1928 or 1929
🎉 Age (in 2025): 95 or 96 years old
📍 Birthplace: Richmond, Texas (some say Los Angeles)
🛐 Religion: Christianity
🎤 Career: Gospel singer
💍 Famous For: Being Ray Charles’ second wife
👶 Children: Ray Charles Jr., David, and Robert
💔 Marriage to Ray: Married in 1955, divorced in 1977
Who Is Della Beatrice Howard Robinson?
Della Beatrice Howard Robinson, also known as “Bea,” is best known as the second wife of musician Ray Charles. But there’s so much more to her story than just being his wife. She was a gospel singer, a loving mother of three, and a strong woman who faced many challenges in life and never gave up, just like Mikey Lorna Tyson.
Della and Ray were married for 22 years, from 1955 to 1977. They had three sons together. Even though their marriage ended, Della remained an important part of Ray’s life. Many reports and interviews say Ray always cared for her and respected her, even after their separation.
Today, in 2025, Della Beatrice Howard Robinson stays out of the public eye. She lives a private life, but her story still touches many people. She is remembered not just as Ray Charles’ ex-wife but as a woman who stayed strong, kind, and calm through all of life’s ups and downs.
Early Years Of Della Beatrice’s Life
Della Beatrice Howard Robinson was born in either 1928 or 1929. Some sources say 1928, while others say 1929. According to many reports, she was born in Richmond, Texas, a small town near Houston. Some others say she was born in Los Angeles, but mostly say it was Richmond.
Her grandmother, Mama Lee, and her uncle George raised her. Just like Sol Xochitl and Mike Tyson, her parents were never married, and her father was not part of her life. Even though she knew who he was, he didn’t raise her. This hurt her, and it stayed with her for a long time.
Della grew up in a small one-bedroom house on a 10-acre farm. Her family grew vegetables like corn, peanuts, cotton, and potatoes. They also had animals like chickens, ducks, and geese. They didn’t have much money, but they always had food on the table. There, life was very simple.
Della’s Life with Her Mother in Houston
After finishing fourth grade in Richmond, Della moved to Houston to live with her mother. But life there was not easy at all. Her relationship with her mother was very painful. They often argued, and Della didn’t like how her mother treated her.
Della also went to school, but she didn’t stay for long. She soon dropped out and started caring for her younger brother, James. Although she was still very young, she already had responsibilities.
After a while, things became too hard for her to handle. So, Della decided to leave her mother’s home. She went to live with her cousin, Robert Lee, and that’s when she began trying to build her own life. She worked hard, stayed quiet, and kept moving forward.
How Della Started Singing Gospel Music
Della Beatrice Howard Robinson didn’t sing just for fun — she wanted to turn it into a career as a gospel singer. After leaving her mother’s house, she got a job as a waitress to pay her bills. But she also had a second job — singing in a gospel group — which changed her life.
She joined a local gospel group that sang at churches. Sometimes, the group was paid from church donations, which helped Della earn a little money. When Della was just 16 years old, a gospel leader named Cecil Shaw heard her singing. He was impressed by her voice and started training her and the group.
Soon, they began singing in larger churches, getting invited to concerts, and even performing on the radio. After some time, they signed a recording deal and started making their own gospel songs. Della’s voice was strong and full of feeling. People who listened to her sing felt something special.
Gospel music didn’t make Della rich, but it gave her direction, purpose, and a chance to show her talent. It also helped her meet someone who changed her life — Ray Charles.
Della’s Two Marriages Before Ray Charles
Before she ever met Ray Charles, Della Beatrice Howard Robinson had already been married twice. Sadly, both marriages ended in pain.
Her first marriage was to the son of a church minister. At first, Della thought he would be kind and give her a happy life. But things changed quickly. He became rude and hurtful. He treated her badly and even hurt her. Della tried to fix the marriage, but it didn’t last, and they separated.
Later, she married another man from church, hoping it would be better. But her second ex-husband was even more violent. Della started to feel uneasy and was scared of him. At a point, she left everything behind and ran to New York City to feel safe and start a new life.
These painful marriages made it hard for Della to trust men again. But even after all that, she still hoped to find true love—someone who would treat her with kindness and respect.
How Della Beatrice Met Ray Charles
Della Beatrice Howard Robinson met Ray Charles unxpectly.
One day, Ray heard her singing a gospel song called “Pray On, My Child” on the radio. He really appreciated her voice and wanted to meet her. They finally met in Texas in 1954.
At first, Della wasn’t interested in him. She was still married at the time and didn’t want to be hurt again. Ray was already famous and living a busy life — always traveling, performing, and spending time with many women. But something about Della caught his attention. He liked that she was quiet, kind, and serious.
Ray didn’t give up. He even rented a house near Della’s home in Houston to be closer to her. Slowly, Della began to trust him. She started to think that maybe he was different from the men who had hurt her in the past. Soon, their connection grew, and they started dating.
Their Marriage and Three Children
After spending some time together, Della Beatrice Howard Robinson became pregnant. She moved in with Ray Charles, and they started a new life together. On April 5, 1955, they got married in a small hotel room in Dallas, Texas. It wasn’t a big wedding — it was quiet and simple.
Soon after, their first son, Ray Charles Jr., was born in May 1955. Later, they had two more sons — David in 1958 and Robert in 1960. While Ray was often away performing at music shows and concerts, Della stayed at home to take care of their children.
She focused on being a loving mother and always supported Ray. She helped create a quiet and happy home environment for their children. We can say Della helped bring peace to Ray’s busy life too. Their son, Ray Jr., said that his mother was the one who kept the whole family together.
Ray Cheated and Had a Baby with Another Woman
As Ray Charles became more famous, things at home got harder. He was always traveling, getting invited to sing at events in many countries. But with fame came problems — like using drugs, feeling stressed, and being with different women.
Della Beatrice Howard Robinson stayed silent during this time. She hoped things would get better and didn’t want to give up. But Ray kept using drugs and having affairs. One of those women even had a child with Ray while he was still married to Della.
In 1976, Della found out the truth during a court case. Ray told the court that he was still in contact with the woman with whom he had a child. The judge then ordered Ray to pay $400 every month to help support that child. This news hurt Della deeply. After the court case ended, she decided to end the marriage. She filed for divorce in 1976. Want to know what happened next? Keep reading!
The Divorce After 22 Years
In 1977, Della Beatrice Howard Robinson and Ray Charles officially ended their marriage. It was a sad ending after being together for 22 years. But Della didn’t go away empty-handed.
She got their home in Southridge, a cash payment of $333,000, and $4,000 every month to help raise their children. Ray also set up a trust fund for their kids’ future. The divorce was quiet, even though their marriage had been in the public eye.
After the divorce, Della never said anything bad about Ray. She stayed private and respectful. According to The Sun, Ray still cared about Della and stayed in touch with their children.
Della’s Life After Ray Charles
After her time in the spotlight, Della Beatrice Howard Robinson chose to live a quiet and peaceful life. She returned to her gospel singing for a little while, but she didn’t try to become famous again. She just wanted to live in peace.
Della stayed away from the public. She focused on her life, her family, and her faith. She didn’t give interviews, didn’t appear on TV, and never used social media.
According to a 2010 report, Della was living in Riverside County, California, and doing well. Since then, there hasn’t been much news about her. So, we don’t know where she is now or what she’s doing. We hope she is still alive and living a peaceful life.
Della Beatrice Howard Robinson’s Net Worth
Over the years, Della built a stable life. According to multiple sources, her net worth is around $15 million as of 2025. Most of that came from her divorce settlement with Ray Charles.
She also earned some money from her early gospel music career. It wasn’t a lot, but it helped her during her younger years. Della never showed off her wealth. She kept things simple and private.
Ray Charles, on the other hand, was worth about $100 million when he died in 2004. After his death, his family had legal fights over his money and property. But Della didn’t get involved. She stayed away from the drama and lived peacefully.
Is Della Beatrice Howard Robinson Still Alive?
This is one of the biggest questions people ask today. So, is Della Beatrice Howard Robinson still alive in 2025?
There’s no public record confirming her death. The last known update was in 2010, saying she was alive and healthy in California. Since then, there has been no new report or update.
Some believe she may still be living quietly in her 90s. Others think she may have passed away, but no official news has been shared. As of now, we don’t know.
Final Thoughts
Della Beatrice Howard Robinson is not just part of Ray Charles’s story. She has a painful but inspiring story of her own. Her life was filled with love, pain, and courage. From growing up on a small farm to being married to a world-famous American singer, Della went through things that many people could not handle.
She raised three sons, stayed beside Ray during his toughest times, and chose a peaceful life instead of chasing fame. Even though she never sought attention, her story still inspires many women. We hope her story inspired you too, and showed how strong some women are.
(FAQs)
Why is Della Beatrice Howard Robinson famous?
She is best known as the second wife of music legend Ray Charles. They were married for 22 years and had three children together.
Where is Della Beatrice Howard Robinson now?
As of 2025, no one knows for sure. The last report from 2010 said she was living quietly in Riverside County, California.
How old is Della Beatrice Howard Robinson?
She was born in 1928 or 1929, so in 2025, she would be about 95 or 96 years old.
Did Della ever remarry after Ray Charles?
There is no public record showing that Della married again after her divorce from Ray Charles.
What is Della Beatrice Howard Robinson’s net worth?
Her net worth is around $15 million in 2025, mostly from her divorce settlement and early gospel music work.
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