The life of one of Ray Charles’ 12 children, Sheila Raye Charles, proved that being the daughter of an icon doesn’t make one exempt from leading a tumultuous lifestyle. Some years ago, Sheila (now deceased) shared her painful story of struggles with her Father and how she ended up spending years in prison.
THE MANY STRUGGLES OF SHIELA RAYE CHARLES THAT LANDED HER IN FEDERAL PRISON
The life Sheila Raye Charles lived is not what many would expect. She revealed that her prior 20-year crack cocaine addiction resulted in three separate stints in federal prison on crack-related charges. Sheila also revealed she had five children by four men, but lost custody of all of them due to her drug abuse, which caused her son to be born prematurely, weighing only 14 ounces:
“I denied my children. Try living with that! I tell you it cannot be done. That is why I chose death – the death found inside rock (crack) and pipe. Behind concrete and bars, I fought for life.” -Sheila Raye Charles
SHEILA ON HER DADDY ABANDONMENT ISSUES
Sheila said she didn’t meet her dad, Ray Charles, until the age of 14. She was sexually abused as a child. Two years later, she was in a serious car accident that lodged her right eye into the back of her skull, taking her years to recover.
A few years later, she tried to follow her dad’s musical footsteps, with her dad’s help. Although she managed to tour with DeBarge and record at Prince’s Paisley Park studio once, her career was unsuccessful. She still struggled with daddy abandonment issues stemming from childhood, and spent years trying to break free from his shadow…eventually ending up on crack.
Sheila once confessed that one of her lowest points was just before her third prison stint. Her Mother, Sandra Jean Betts, had died. Her dad, Ray Charles, was no longer returning her calls, said Sheila.
SADLY, SHE PASSED AWAY, BUT NOT BEFORE TURNING HER LIFE AROUND
Years after detailing her struggles publicly, Sheila Raye Charles passed way in 2017 at age 53, following a lengthy battle with breast cancer. Thankfully, prior to her passing, she had long since kicked her drug addiction. rekindled her singing career, and reconnected with some of her children. FYI: the 14 ounce baby is now a 100% healthy young man.
Sheila married her husband, Michael “Tony” Steptoe, in 2010 and became a devout Christian. She and Tony- a former drug dealer who changed his life after being released from prison in 2008- developed One Way Up Prison Ministry, where they used their life stories to encourage prison inmates that they, too, can make a change for the better. They also spoke at many churches, service organizations, and recovery programs.
Sheila Raye once opened up one of her prison speaking engagements by stating:
“I know some of you out there are thinking, ‘Oh, she’s Ray Charles’s daughter; what could she have possibly been through?’ It is only by the grace of God that I’m not sitting in that chair right now.”
Job well done Sheila. Rest on queen.
