Shirley Raines’ Daughter Shares Thoughts After Her Mother’s Passing at 58 and Growing Support for Their Nonprofit
Shirley Raines.
Credit:
Vivien Killilea/Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- Shirley Raines’ daughter, Danielle Williams, speaks out following her mother’s sudden death at 58
- A spokesperson for the Clark County Coroner’s Office confirmed Raines died on January 27 in Henderson, Nevada
- Raines founded the nonprofit Beauty 2 The Streetz, widely recognized for distributing food and supplies to Skid Row’s homeless population
Danielle Williams is addressing the surge of donations to her family after the unexpected death of her mother, Shirley Raines, at the age of 58.
The well-known activist, celebrated on social media for her humanitarian efforts on Skid Row, was found unresponsive in her home by police, her twin sister, Shelia, has stated. The Clark County Coroner’s Office confirmed her passing occurred in Henderson, Nevada on January 27.
In the wake of her mother’s death, Williams has noted a significant increase in donations to Raines’ organization, Beauty 2 The Streetz. She has encouraged supporters to contribute directly to the nonprofit.
“It feels amazing to see how far her reach was and how many people knew her and loved her and are caring for her like she cared for her community,” Williams said. “She’d just want those she served to be supported.”
Shirley Raines, a mother of six, founded Beauty 2 The Streetz, which delivers food and essential resources to the homeless in Skid Row, a neighborhood in Downtown Los Angeles acknowledged for its high homeless population.
Shirley Raines.
Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty
Beauty 2 The Streetz boasts a following of over 6 million on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, where it shares videos of Raines’ outreach efforts. The nonprofit also provides makeovers to women in the community, aiming to shift public perceptions of homelessness.
“One of the things I wanted to do was change the face of homelessness, and I thought I was going to do that through hair and all these things,” Raines said in a 2020 interview. “But I soon understood we needed to change the narrative of what ‘homeless’ means. Just because they’re without a home does not mean they’re without love. They are homeless, but a lot of them are not jobless. A lot of them are not kidless, phoneless, or familyless. There are many levels of poverty as there are many levels of wealth.”
Shelia recounted that Shirley’s youngest daughter had spent the day attempting to reach her mother on January 27. After receiving no response, she drove to Shirley’s home, where she waited and eventually called the police to conduct a wellness check. Officers found Raines unresponsive in her bedroom, with no visible signs explaining her death.
Shirley Raines.
Robin L Marshall/Getty for Allure
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department has not provided any comments regarding the incident.
In their statement on Raines’ passing, Beauty 2 The Streetz remembered her as a figure of “tireless advocacy, deep compassion, and unwavering commitment.” The nonprofit emphasized her impactful use of social media to amplify the voices of those in need, bringing dignity and hope to underserved communities. “This loss is devastating to the entire Beauty 2 The Streetz team, the communities we serve, and the countless individuals whose lives were forever changed by Ms. Shirley’s love, generosity, and selfless service,” the statement concluded.
