Della Beatrice Howard Robinson, often called Bea, is known to many fans as Ray Charles’ second wife. Her story sits next to the rise of a music legend. It is a story about patience, family care, and quiet power. She helped raise three sons while her husband toured the world and changed American music. Many details about her life stayed private, yet her role in Ray’s personal world was strong and steady.
Personal Information
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Della Beatrice Howard Robinson |
| Nickname | Bea |
| Known for | Second wife of Ray Charles and mother of three of his sons |
| Relationship to Ray Charles | Married April 5, 1955. Divorced 1977 |
| Children | Ray Charles Robinson Jr., David Robinson, Robert Robinson |
| Lived | Family home in View Park, California during marriage |
| Noted background | Often described as a former gospel singer in early life |
| Also called | “Della Bea” or “Bea Robinson” |
| Marriage length | About 22 years |
Early Life and Background
Public records about Bea’s early years are limited. Some reports say she grew up with a strong church life and loved gospel music. This would fit the time and place where so many African American families found community, hope, and music in church. Several profiles describe her as a gospel singer before marriage. While these pieces are secondary sources, they echo a common view of her roots in church songs and community choirs.
Meeting Ray Charles
Bea met Ray Charles in Texas in 1954. At that moment Ray was already building a fast career. He was shaping a new sound that mixed gospel, blues, and jazz. The two formed a bond and soon married on April 5, 1955. Their partnership began just as Ray’s fame grew across the United States.
Marriage and Family Life
Bea and Ray had three sons together. Their first child, Ray Charles Robinson Jr., was born in 1955. He would later write about the family and about his mother’s strength in his book “You Don’t Know Me: Reflections of My Father, Ray Charles.” Their other sons are David and Robert. During these years the family lived in View Park, California, a community in Los Angeles County.
Life at home was not simple. Ray’s schedule was heavy. He was on the road often. Touring, recording, and interviews took much time. This meant Bea handled many family duties day to day. She kept the home stable for the boys while Ray traveled and performed. Her role was often behind the scenes, but it mattered a lot to the family rhythm.
The Challenge of Fame
As Ray’s career climbed, the pressure on the marriage grew. Ray wrote openly about two struggles in his life. One was his heroin addiction. The other was his problem with infidelity. In his own words, both habits hurt people around him. This honesty helps us understand why family life was hard. It also shows the weight that Bea carried during many years of marriage.
Fame also brought constant travel. Touring brought late nights, new cities, and long studio work. For a partner at home, this means loneliness, stress, and extra parenting duties. Bea faced these issues while also trying to give her boys a normal life. That quiet work is easy to miss when we look only at awards and hit songs, but in any family it is vital.
A Mother’s Steady Role
Many fans know Ray Charles for classic songs like “What’d I Say” and “Georgia on My Mind.” Fewer people think about the support systems at home. Bea gave structure to the children’s daily life. She helped with school, meals, and routines. The family had to share their father with the world. A steady parent at home helps children feel safe when a parent works in public. Accounts from Ray’s circle, plus remarks collected by his son, point to Bea’s strong presence as a mother.
Why The Marriage Ended
In 1977 Bea filed for divorce. The reasons were linked to Ray’s drug addiction, his affairs, and the strain of constant touring. These facts are not rumors. They appear in Ray’s own account and in established biographies. The split ended a marriage of about 22 years, which is long in any life and very long in the high-pressure music world.
After The Divorce
After the divorce Bea stayed out of the spotlight. She did not seek press attention. This choice kept her private life safe but also means there is less public detail about her later years. What we do know comes mostly from family references, public records tied to the children, and reporting that repeats earlier sources. That is normal for many people who are connected to famous figures yet prefer quiet living.
How Bea’s Story Fits The Larger Ray Charles Legacy
Ray’s legacy reaches far beyond one genre. He helped build soul music. He crossed over into country and pop. He won many awards and shaped modern music. In this very public story, Bea’s work was personal and local. She protected a home base. She guided three sons during a time of intense change. This kind of family work is invisible to charts and trophies. Yet it allows a touring artist to focus on craft while someone trustworthy keeps the family life steady.
About The Children
Ray Charles Robinson Jr. became a filmmaker and author. His book speaks with care about his father’s gifts and flaws and about his mother’s strength. David Robinson and Robert Robinson also keep relatively private lives compared with their famous father. Public roundups of Ray’s large family often note that Bea’s three sons are part of the musician’s twelve children in total. This broader picture shows the complex family map that Bea had to navigate, especially when headlines focused on the star and not on the people at home.
Bea’s Public Image
Because Bea avoided media, modern articles rely on past material and family sources. Some lifestyle and news features describe her as a former gospel singer and highlight her strong faith. These reports fit what we know about the era and her early environment. Still, the best practice is to treat any detail that is not supported by primary records as “reported,” not confirmed. This careful view respects her privacy and keeps the story honest for readers.
The Balance Between Private Life and Public Legend
Stories about stars often ignore the people who sit just outside the frame. Bea’s life reminds us that a public legend can rest on quiet labor at home. Childcare, meals, school runs, and bedtime stories do not make headlines. Yet these tasks build a base for any family. Bea did this work for years while her husband made records and led bands on the road. When we look at Ray Charles’ career timeline, it is fair to also think about the timeline of family effort that ran beside it.
Lessons From Bea’s Journey
- Strength can be quiet. Bea showed patience and focus during long periods of stress.
- Privacy is a choice. She did not chase cameras. That choice protected her and her children.
- Family roles matter. A calm home helps children grow even when a parent is often away.
- Honesty helps history. Ray’s open words about his faults help us understand why the marriage ended and why Bea’s burden was heavy.
Connection to Ray’s Philanthropy and Legacy
Later in life, Ray used his success to support education and hearing-health causes by creating a foundation that still works today. While this part of the story belongs to Ray, it shows how family experience, struggle, and growth can lead to service. Understanding the family side, including Bea’s role, gives fuller context to the man behind the music and to the values tied to his name.
Why This Story Still Matters
Modern readers can learn a lot from Bea’s life. She shows that you can have a big effect without standing on a stage. She shows that love is not only romance and cheers. It is also routine, patience, and clear limits when a partner’s choices cause harm. Her decision to leave after many years was also a form of strength. It protected her well-being and set an example for her sons.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is Della Beatrice Howard Robinson
She is the second wife of Ray Charles and the mother of three of his sons. She is often called Bea.
2. When did Della and Ray marry and divorce
They married on April 5, 1955 and divorced in 1977 after about 22 years of marriage.
3. How many children did Della and Ray have together
They had three sons. Their names are Ray Charles Robinson Jr., David Robinson, and Robert Robinson.
4. Where did the family live during the marriage
They raised their children in View Park, California, a community in Los Angeles County.
5. Why did the marriage end
Ray’s heroin addiction, affairs, and the strain of touring hurt the relationship. Bea filed for divorce in 1977.
6. Was Bea a singer
Many articles describe Bea as a former gospel singer in her early life.
7. What does Ray Charles Jr.’s book say about his mother
His book “You Don’t Know Me: Reflections of My Father, Ray Charles” paints a caring picture of his mother and speaks about the family’s challenges and love.
8. How many total children did Ray Charles have
Public sources say twelve children with several partners across his life. Bea’s three sons are part of this larger family.
9. Is there a lot of public information about Bea’s personal life
Not much. She kept a low profile, so details after the divorce are limited.
10. Why is Bea important to Ray Charles’ story
Her quiet role helped keep the home base stable while Ray built a historic career. She also showed clear strength when she chose a healthier path for herself and her children.
