Lizzo broke down in tears as she mourned the death of homeless activist Shirley “Ms. Shirley” Raines.
“Shirley Raines, founder of Beauty2theStreetz, incredible woman, leader in her community, passed away last night,” the “Good As Hell” singer, born Melissa Jefferson, said in videos shared to Instagram Stories Wednesday.
“I am devastated. If any of you guys know about any of my Juneteenth gift backs, Shirley has always been a part of them every single year,” she added.
Lizzo, 37, said she would often donate so many of her clothes to Raines’ non-profit, Beauty 2 The Streetz, which offers hair, makeup, hygiene and food to those in need.
“I had so many clothes and I saw that she was going to Skid Row and she was going to homeless communities and she was beautifying them,” the pop star shared.
“Helping them feel seen. Helping them feel beautiful, giving them makeovers, haircuts, clothes. And she used to joke like, ‘Girl, everybody be in your clothes. I got on Lizzo’s coat.’”
The Grammy winner said she even asked her shapewear line, YITTY, to donate to Raines’ cause so plus-sized women could also feel good about themselves.
“She was like, ‘You made the plus-sized girls so happy, they feel so fly,’” Lizzo recalled.
The flutist, who was hit with sexual harassment lawsuits in 2023, said Raines supported her when the “public was turning its back on me.”
“She was like, ‘Stay encouraged.’ She would always send me messages of love and she never ever, ever asked for anything in return,” Lizzo shared.
“People like her are rare, special and they deserve to be protected and honored. And I’m so grateful I was able to give her her flowers when she was here.”
Lizzo concluded her emotional message by wiping away tears as she expressed how much she would miss Raines.
“She overserved the underserved and she helped the marginalized feel important,” she said.
“We’re going to miss you and we’re going to need you, Shirley. I’m so sad that you’re gone.”
Raines was found dead at her home in Henderson, Nev., on Tuesday when her daughter called in a wellness check to authorities. She was 58.
Raines’ daughter told People her mom was “unresponsive” on the side of her bed and that there were “no visible signs” to explain the activist’s passing.
A cause of death has not yet been revealed.
The mom of six gained millions of followers on Instagram and TikTok by regularly sharing videos of herself delivering supplies and food to the less fortunate.
Read the full article here
