Shirley Raines, a Compton woman who dedicated her life to providing for homeless people and founded the nonprofit Beauty 2 the Streetz, has died, her organization announced. She was 58.
“Ms. Shirley dedicated her life to serving others and made an immeasurable impact on homeless communities throughout Los Angeles and Nevada,” a message posted to Raines’ X account on Wednesday read. “Through her tireless advocacy, deep compassion, and unwavering commitment, she used her powerful media platform to amplify the voices of those in need and to bring dignity, resources, and hope to some of the most undeserved populations.”
For years, Raines’ organization has served people experiencing homelessness across the region, providing them services such as hair coloring, makeup and mobile showers. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the group handed out face masks, hand sanitizer, vitamins and more.
“They need to see a friendly face,” she told The Times in 2020. “They need to know they’re not forgotten.”
Raines was born in Compton on Dec. 29, 1967. She had six children and four grandchildren and lived in Long Beach. In 2021, CNN named her “Hero of the Year” for her work helping people on Skid Row.
“This surely hasn’t been easy. I stand before you a very broken woman,” Raines said in her award speech. “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.”
Rashawn Williams, Raines’ 34-year-old daughter, volunteered with her mother to help the homeless.
“She loved to help people,” she said. “She loved everyone. She’s a beautiful soul and she just carried so much. She really loved my baby brother who passed away. I’m just so happy for her that she gets to be with him. It’s bittersweet.”
She said that Beauty 2 the Streetz would continue offering services and that the board will determine who will lead the nonprofit next.
“We will carry this on for generations,” she said. “It’s not over. I want her community to know that they helped her so much. They helped her find herself.”
Raines died in her sleep in Las Vegas, her daughter said. Her cause of death has not yet been announced.
Raines was “self-taught” in makeup and beauty, her daughter added.
Yuri Williams is the founder of A Future Superhero and Friends, a nonprofit that provides services to homeless people, veterans, the elderly and the disabled in Los Angeles. Williams first met Raines in 2017.
The two bonded over recent family tragedies. Raines’ son had passed away and Williams lost his mother to cancer.
Williams brought Raines to downtown Los Angeles, and the two began volunteering together on the street with Paul Avila, the founder of Pauly’s Project, another nonprofit that serves Skid Row’s homeless population. Avila died last year.
Williams said that one day after they went out with Avila, Raines started crying.
“She said that Paul has the radios that he gives out and you have the costumes and you’re making people laugh, but I don’t have anything,” Williams said.
Williams pointed out that Raines was doing people’s makeup, washing their hair and providing other beauty services. He told her that she was bringing beauty to the streets, and that’s how her nonprofit got its name.
“She reminded me of my mom because she’s a loving mother, but she would not change who she was,” Williams said. “She was loud. We would fight and make up like brother and sister would.”
The last time Williams saw Raines was at Avila’s funeral’s last year. He said that Raines had apologized for not keeping in touch as much recently.
“I’m happy that I got to lead her onto this path that she’s on,” Williams said. “She left a big impact on this world.”
“She wanted to give that strength back to women, that dignity,” said Catherine Butler, Avila’s older sister. “She was out there, with her bubbly personality. She took that to Beauty 2 the Streetz.”
