Della Beatrice Howard Robinson was the second wife of legendary singer Ray Charles. She was also a gospel singer in her own right, a mother of three sons, and the woman who stood beside Ray Charles through fame, addiction, and recovery. Their marriage lasted 22 years, from 1955 to 1977. This article looks at her life, her marriage to Ray Charles, and what happened after their divorce.
Who Was Della Beatrice Howard Robinson?
Della Beatrice Howard Robinson, often called “Bea,” was a gospel singer best known today for her marriage to Ray Charles. But her story starts long before she met him.
She was not simply “the wife of a famous man.” She grew up singing in church, developed her own musical talent, and later became a steady, private presence behind one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century.
Early Life and Background
Sources disagree on some details of Della’s early life. Most accounts place her birth around 1929, though a few say 1928. Her birthplace is also disputed: some sources point to Richmond, Texas, a small town about 15 miles southwest of Houston, while others say Los Angeles, California. Because she lived most of her life outside the public eye, no single record has ever been widely confirmed as accurate.
What’s more consistent across accounts is her family background. Her parents never married and separated shortly after her birth. She was raised by her mother in modest conditions. Some accounts describe her growing up on her maternal family’s farm, where she attended school only through the fourth grade before taking on household responsibilities.
Despite this hard start, Della found something that gave her purpose: music.
Beginnings as a Gospel Singer
Della’s musical journey began in church. As a teenager, she joined Cecil Shaw’s church choir. Through the choir, she performed in churches, at concerts, and even on the radio.
Her voice stood out. This early exposure to performing didn’t just build her confidence. It also placed her in musical circles where she would eventually cross paths with Ray Charles. Gospel music shaped her identity long before she became known as Ray Charles’ wife.
How Della Robinson Met Ray Charles
Della met Ray Charles in Texas in 1954. At the time, Ray Charles was building his career as a singer, pianist, and songwriter, and Della was already known for her voice in gospel circles.
Their shared connection to music helped bring them together. Reports describe Della as thoughtful and independent, not someone easily impressed by fame. This set her apart from many people drawn to Ray Charles simply because of his growing celebrity.
Their relationship moved quickly. Within a year of meeting, they were married.
Marriage to Ray Charles
Della Beatrice Howard Robinson and Ray Charles married on April 5, 1955. This was Ray Charles’ second marriage. His first marriage, to Eileen Williams, lasted only a year, from 1951 to 1952.
The two marriages looked very different from the start:
| Eileen Williams | Della Beatrice Howard Robinson | |
|---|---|---|
| Married | 1951 | 1955 |
| Marriage length | About 1 year | 22 years |
| Divorced | 1952 | 1977 |
| Children | None reported | Three sons |
Della and Ray Charles’ wedding was small and simple. It took place in a modest back room, and a woman neither of them knew well officiated the ceremony. There was no large celebration. But the marriage marked a major turning point in Della’s life, moving her from the world of church choirs into the orbit of a rising music star.
Wedding Details and Early Family Life
Ray Charles gave Della the nickname “Bea,” a name that stuck with her for the rest of her life.
The couple wasted no time starting a family:
- May 25, 1955: Their first son, Ray Charles Robinson Jr., was born just one month after the wedding. Ray Charles was away performing at the time, so Della gave birth without him present.
- Later years: They had two more sons, David and Robert.
- Family home: The family eventually settled in View Park, California.
This pattern, Ray Charles’ career pulling him away from home, would repeat many times over the years.
Here’s a quick summary of the key facts:
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Marriage date | April 5, 1955 |
| Spouse | Ray Charles (his second wife) |
| Children | Three sons: Ray Charles Jr., David, Robert |
| Home | View Park, California |
| Divorce | 1977, after 22 years of marriage |
Life During the Marriage
Being married to Ray Charles meant living alongside both his growing fame and his personal struggles.
Ray Charles’ career took off through the late 1950s and 1960s. That success brought money, touring, and public attention, but it also meant long absences from home. Della raised their three sons largely on her own during these years, managing the household while Ray Charles traveled and recorded.
Supporting Ray Charles Through Fame and Addiction
One of the most important, and least talked about, parts of Della’s story is the role she played during Ray Charles’ struggles with heroin addiction. Ray Charles battled substance abuse for years during their marriage, and Della was a steady presence through much of that period.
She provided the stability that let him keep working through some of his most difficult years. This kind of support was essential to Ray Charles’ ability to function as a performer during a turbulent stretch of his life, even though it rarely appears in accounts of his career.
Over time, the pressures of his career, his infidelity, and his ongoing addiction issues put a lasting strain on the marriage.
Divorce and What Followed
Della and Ray Charles divorced in 1977, ending a marriage that had lasted 22 years. Most accounts point to two main causes: Ray Charles’ infidelity and his continued struggles with drug addiction.
Della’s divorce from Ray Charles was quiet. She didn’t give interviews or make public statements about it. Instead, she raised her sons and moved on from the marriage without seeking public attention, a pattern she kept for the rest of her life.
Was Della Beatrice Howard Robinson in the Movie “Ray”?
Ray Charles’ life was portrayed in the 2004 film “Ray,” starring Jamie Foxx. The film focuses heavily on Ray Charles’ career and his struggles with addiction, and it includes scenes depicting his relationship with his wife during that period. However, detailed, verified information about how closely the film’s portrayal of Della matches her real life is limited, since she never spoke publicly about the film or her marriage. Viewers interested in her real story should treat the film as a dramatization rather than a documented account.
Della Beatrice Howard Robinson’s Later Life and Death
After the divorce, Della lived a private life away from public attention. She raised her three sons and stayed largely out of the media, even as Ray Charles continued his career and remained a public figure until his death in 2004.
Details about her final years are limited, since she avoided public life by choice. One genealogical record places her death around January 1986, though this has not been independently confirmed by mainstream biographical sources. As with several details of her life, the exact date remains unverified.
Why the Record on Her Life Is Incomplete
If you search for Della Beatrice Howard Robinson online, you’ll notice something odd: sources disagree on basic facts like her birth year, birthplace, and death date. This isn’t unusual for private individuals connected to famous people, especially from an era with less thorough public record-keeping.
There’s also a specific mix-up worth mentioning directly: Della Beatrice Howard Robinson, Ray Charles’ wife, is a completely different person from Maria Hawkins Cole, the wife of singer Nat King Cole. Some online articles mistakenly blend details from these two women’s lives. If you come across a biography describing “Della Beatrice Howard Robinson” as married to Nat King Cole, raising daughters named Carole, Natalie, and Timolin, or living in Chicago, that information belongs to a different person entirely.
Della’s core story remains clear even where finer details are disputed: gospel singer, wife of Ray Charles for 22 years, mother of three sons, and a private woman for the rest of her life after their divorce.
FAQs
Was Della Beatrice Howard Robinson Ray Charles’ only wife?
No. She was his second wife. His first marriage, to Eileen Williams, lasted from 1951 to 1952. Della and Ray Charles married in 1955.
How many children did Della Beatrice Howard Robinson have with Ray Charles?
They had three sons together: Ray Charles Robinson Jr., David Robinson, and Robert Robinson.
When did Della Beatrice Howard Robinson and Ray Charles divorce?
They divorced in 1977, after 22 years of marriage.
Why did Della and Ray Charles get divorced?
Most accounts point to Ray Charles’ infidelity and his ongoing struggles with drug addiction as the main reasons for the divorce.
Was Della Beatrice Howard Robinson a singer?
Yes. Before marrying Ray Charles, she sang gospel music and performed with Cecil Shaw’s church choir in churches, concerts, and on the radio.
Is Della Beatrice Howard Robinson the same person as Nat King Cole’s wife?
No. That is a common mix-up online. Nat King Cole’s wife was Maria Hawkins Cole, a different woman entirely.
Is Della Beatrice Howard Robinson still alive?
No. One genealogical record places her death around January 1986, though this has not been widely confirmed.
Conclusion
Della Beatrice Howard Robinson’s life reaches far beyond her marriage to Ray Charles. She was a gospel singer who found her voice in church long before fame entered her life. As Ray Charles’ wife for 22 years, she raised three sons and stood by him through his rise to stardom and his struggles with addiction. When the marriage ended in 1977, she chose privacy over public attention, and she kept that choice for the rest of her life. Her story shows that behind Ray Charles’ public career was a woman who shaped her own path, even while much of it stayed out of the historical record.