It’s with a heavy heart that we share the news about the passing of Shirley Raines, affectionately known as Miss Shirley. This amazing nonprofit founder and Skid Row advocate passed away at 58. Her loss leaves a big hole in Los Angeles and many other communities.
Photo courtesy Beauty 2 The Streetz
Born on December 29, 1967, in Compton, California, Shirley dedicated her life to helping unhoused people in Los Angeles and Nevada. She leaves behind five kids and four grandkids.
Miss Shirley was famous for starting Beauty 2 The Streetz, a nonprofit that helped people living on the streets by giving them meals, soap, and even beauty treatments. For years, you could always find her on Skid Row. People knew and trusted her because she showed up every week with food, supplies, and a lot of heart. She did more than just hand out necessities. She really cared about making people feel good about themselves and letting them know they were important.
Raines officially started Beauty 2 The Streetz back in 2017. It grew from simple acts of kindness into something huge, touching millions of lives. She’d wash and style hair, do makeup, and just sit and listen to these women’s stories. It wasn’t about fixing everything at once but about showing care and respect when people really needed it.
Photo courtesy Beauty 2 The Streetz
Raines’ mission was deeply shaped by her own life experiences. She openly spoke about surviving homelessness and the devastating loss of her son. During her 2021 CNN Hero of the Year acceptance speech, she shared how pain became purpose. “The journey hasn’t been easy,” Raines said. “I stand before you a very broken woman. I am a mother without a son, and there are a lot of people in the streets without a mother, and I feel like it’s a fair exchange.”
People all over really connected with her honesty. That year, CNN named her Hero of the Year because they saw how she treated often-forgotten people with respect and kindness. In 2025, she also got an NAACP Image Award for being an awesome social media personality, mainly because she uses her voice to lift up communities that need it.
Her daughter, Rayshawn Williams, who’s 34, said that her mom’s work really took off once she met others who believed in the same things. After meeting Yury Williams and Paula Avila, who started Pauly’s Project (sadly, she passed away last year), Raines started helping people on Skid Row. These friendships really made Beauty 2 The Streetz stronger.
Catherine Butler, the older sister of Paula Avila, described Raines as a source of strength for many women. “She wanted to give that strength back to women, that dignity,” Butler said. “She was out there with her bubbly personality. She took that beauty to the streets.”
Photo courtesy Beauty 2 The Streetz
People closest to Raines remember her as loving and selfless. “She loved to help people,” William said. “She loved everyone. She’s a beautiful soul, and she carried so much. She really loved my baby brother who had passed away. I’m just so happy for her that she gets to be with him. It’s bittersweet.”
Possible Foul Play?
In videos shared just before she passed away, Raines shared some worries. She thought she might have been given drugs without her knowledge. She said she went missing for a few days, with no idea where she’d been. She later woke up at home with bruises she couldn’t explain. While this hasn’t been confirmed, Raines said it really bothered her and made her feel like something was wrong.
Soon after sharing those worries, Shirley Raines was found dead in her home. The police haven’t said how she died, and there’s been no official word about any crime. Her family mentioned she didn’t have any health problems that would explain her sudden death. Because there are no answers, people who cared about her are shocked and looking for answers.
Since she died, lots of people have shared kind words, along with volunteers, supporters, and people she helped. Social media is full of messages remembering her kindness and dedication. Many said she had a way of making people feel noticed when others ignored them.
Beauty 2 The Streetz has said they’ll keep doing their work. The board will decide who will lead the group next, and they want to stick to the goals that Raines worked toward for years.
Go Fund Me Raising Money to Keep Bringing Beauty 2 the Streetz
Photo courtesy Beauty 2 The Streetz
Since Raines’ passing, Beauty 2 The Streetz has raised over $250,000 via GoFundMe stating,
“Beauty 2 The Streetz began in 2017 as a means to provide dignity-restoring services to the individuals who call Skid Row home. This mission has flourished beyond our wildest expectations! With your invaluable support, we’ve reached individuals in San Diego, Sacramento, and Las Vegas, in addition to our cherished Skid Row community. It’s been an extraordinary journey.
This year, we’re eager to extend our impact even further. Our growth has been rapid, but unfortunately, so has the demand for our services. We’re eager to hit the road come summer, but to do so, we must increase our finances. Our mobile hair salon is currently in the works (a heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed to that endeavor), and we’re also in the process of developing our next food truck and an ice cream truck!
Your contribution to this mission means everything to us.”
Memorial Services Unannounced as of Jan 29th
Many who were touched by Ms. Shirley’s life and service are waiting for an opportunity to pay their final respects, yet as memorial service details have not yet been announced as of January 29.
“We are overwhelmed by the outpouring of love, prayers, and comfort we have received for our beloved CEO, Ms. Shirley Raines. Your support has meant more to us than words can express during this incredibly difficult time.
We will continue to keep the public updated as arrangements are made by the family. Please continue to keep Ms. Shirley’s family, our team, and all of the individuals who came to depend on her service in your prayers.
We are working closely with Ms. Shirley’s family to ensure her legacy is honored as we move forward and that the work she was so deeply proud of continues. We ask that you please understand this is an extremely difficult time for all involved, and we kindly ask for positivity in honor of Ms. Shirley.
Thank you for the continued love and support shown to Ms. Shirley, her family, and the Beauty 2 The Streetz team.”
In an effort to confirm memorial details, DT Weekly contacted the Skid Row Museum to ask whether arrangements for Miss Shirley had been announced. Representatives said they had not been given any confirmed information regarding funeral or public service plans at this time.
Even though we still have questions about how she died, Shirley Raines’ impact is obvious. She fed people who were hungry, helped those who were forgotten, and treated everyone with respect, especially when they needed it. The good she did will keep going through the community she helped and the people whose lives she changed.
To donate via GoFundMe to Beauty 2 The Streetz visit www.gofundme.com/f/beauty-2-the-streetz
