Della Beatrice Howard Robinson, known to family as Bea, was the second wife of Ray Charles and the mother of his three eldest sons. She married the singer on April 5, 1955, stayed with him through his rise to international fame, and divorced him in 1977 after about 22 years of marriage.
Della Beatrice Howard Robinson: Quick Facts
| Detail | Fact |
| Full name | Della Beatrice Howard Robinson |
| Nickname | Bea |
| Known as | Second wife of Ray Charles |
| Born | Around 1928, Texas |
| Background | Gospel singer, devout churchgoer |
| Married | April 5, 1955 |
| Divorced | 1977 |
| Children | Ray Charles Robinson Jr. (born May 25, 1955), David Robinson (born 1958), Robert Robinson (born 1960) |
Early Life and Background
Della Beatrice Howard early life began in Texas, in a Black working-class family in the segregated South. Her roots lead to Richmond, a small town southwest of Houston, where a railroad line marked the racial divide. Her mother and aunts later moved to Houston and worked as live-in housekeepers.
Her son Ray Charles Robinson Jr. has written that she was about two years older than his father, who was born in 1930. That places her birth near 1928. Howard was her maiden name. She took the surname Robinson from her husband, whose birth name was Ray Charles Robinson.
Her schooling was brief, and she entered adult life working and attending church.
Della Beatrice Howard Robinson and Her Music Career
Della Beatrice Howard Robinson sang gospel in Houston and is linked to the choir of Cecil Shaw’s church. Her music belonged to the congregation, not the recording studio, and no commercial records exist under her name.
That background shaped the home she tried to build. Her faith and her discomfort with the nightclub world run through every account of her, and they set her apart from the circle around her future husband.
Meeting Ray Charles and Marriage
She met Ray Charles in Texas in 1954. He had signed with Atlantic Records and was blending gospel, blues, and rhythm and blues into the sound behind “I Got a Woman.” She moved to Dallas at his request, despite her hesitation about the music business.
They married on April 5, 1955. Ray Charles Robinson Jr. was born on May 25, 1955, about seven weeks after the wedding. By 1960 she had three sons under the age of six, while her husband spent most of each year on the road.
Ray Charles was not yet a household name when they married. The early years rested on tight money and constant travel, and she became a young mother of three while his career was still being built.
The Pressures Inside the Marriage
Marriage to Ray Charles carried three strains.
- Addiction. Ray Charles used heroin for many years. He was arrested on narcotics charges in 1961 and again in 1964, and he entered treatment in 1965.
- Infidelity. He was unfaithful repeatedly and is widely reported to have fathered twelve children with ten women.
- Absence. Touring kept him away from home, and Della carried most of the daily work of raising the boys.
She confronted these problems directly and worked to hold the household together for the children. This is the core of Ray Charles’ personal life during the marriage.
Why Did Ray Charles and Della Divorce?
Ray Charles and Della divorced in 1977 because his addiction, his affairs, and his constant absence wore the marriage down over two decades. She filed in 1976, and the divorce was finalized in 1977. Neither of them turned the split into a public fight.
Ray Charles discussed his infidelity and drug use in his autobiography, Brother Ray, written with David Ritz. Della never gave a comparable public account, so her reasons are known through his words, her sons’ words, and later biographers.
What Happened to Ray Charles’ Wife After the Divorce?
After the divorce, Della Beatrice Howard Robinson withdrew from public life and focused on her sons. She declined the publicity that often follows a famous marriage and has kept her later years private. Her sons built public lives of their own. Ray Charles Robinson Jr. became an actor and author, and Robert Robinson became a minister.
Did Ray Charles Love Della Beatrice?
Yes, though unevenly. He married her, kept returning to family life with her, and spoke of her with respect in later years. He also broke the trust of the marriage again and again. Love and unreliability existed side by side, as they often do in marriages marked by addiction.
How Many Kids Did Ray Charles Have With Della Beatrice?
Ray Charles and Della Beatrice had three children, all sons: Ray Charles Robinson Jr., David Robinson, and Robert Robinson.
Case Study: Three Sons in Five Years
The first five years of the marriage show how heavy her workload was. Ray Jr. arrived in 1955, David in 1958, and Robert in 1960. Over the same period, her husband moved from regional touring to national hits, with “What’d I Say” following in 1959. Each rise in his career meant longer absences, and each birth added to what she carried alone. Her role was the steady base that his schedule never allowed him to provide.
How She Appears on Screen
Della Bea appears in the 2004 film Ray, directed by Taylor Hackford, where Kerry Washington plays her. The film compresses events and combines people, so it works as an emotional portrait and not as a record of dates.
Author’s Note:
My view is that Della Beatrice Howard Robinson has been judged by the wrong measure. Most writers ask why she stayed or why she left. I think the better question is what she built while the world looked at someone else. She raised three sons, held a household together through arrests, tours and public infidelity, and then chose a private life when she could have sold her story. That choice explains why reliable information about her is so thin. Her silence was a decision, and writers who fill the gaps with guesses disrespect it. I would rather publish less than guess.
Why Her Story is Important?
Her story matters for three reasons.
- It corrects the habit of treating the wives of famous men as background figures.
- It shows how much unpaid family labor sits behind a touring musician’s career.
- It also shows the strength of a person who ended a painful marriage without turning it into a spectacle.
Who was Della Beatrice Howard Robinson? She was a gospel singer from Texas, the mother of three sons, and the wife who stood beside Ray Charles through the years when he was becoming a legend.
Personal stories matter. If you are thinking about writing your own life story, the writers at ManuscriptMan.com can help.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Della Beatrice Howard Robinson?
She was the second wife of Ray Charles, a gospel singer from Texas, and the mother of his sons Ray Jr., David, and Robert.
When did Ray Charles marry Della Beatrice Howard Robinson?
They married on April 5, 1955.
How long were they married?
About 22 years, from 1955 until the divorce in 1977.
Was Della Beatrice Howard Robinson a professional singer?
She sang gospel in church choirs and made no commercial recordings.How many sons did she have with Ray Charles?
Three: Ray Charles Robinson Jr., David Robinson, and Robert Robinson.
Read Also: Top 5 Iconic Roles of George Clooney Every Fan Should Know
