Shirley Raines Was Found ‘Unresponsive’ After Daughter Called in a Wellness Check Before Her Death 

Shirley Raines’s twin sister, Shelia, is speaking publicly after the activist’s death at age 58.

Shirley — widely known online for distributing food, hygiene products and other essentials to Skid Row’s unhoused community — was found dead on Jan. 27, a spokesperson for the Clark County Coroner’s Office previously confirmed. News of her death was first announced by her nonprofit, Beauty 2 The Streetz, in a Jan. 28 Instagram statement.

Shelia said Shirley’s youngest daughter tried repeatedly to reach her on Jan. 27, calling several times throughout the day and hoping to stop by Shirley’s home in Henderson, Nev. When there was no response, Shelia said the daughter drove to the house and “waited and waited,” even throwing small rocks at a window to get her attention.

As concern grew, Shirley’s daughter contacted police and requested a welfare check. Officers later found Shirley lying “unresponsive” beside her bed, according to Shelia, who added that there were “no visible signs” to immediately explain what happened.

“We’re in shock,” Shelia said.

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department declined to comment.

Shirley, a mother of six, founded Beauty 2 The Streetz, an organization that provides resources to people living in Skid Row — a downtown Los Angeles neighborhood spanning roughly 50 city blocks and home to one of the largest unhoused populations in the United States.

Beauty 2 The Streetz has a combined following of more than 6 million across Instagram and TikTok, where it regularly shared videos of Shirley delivering meals and supplies. The organization posted content as recently as two days before the announcement of her death.

In addition to providing aid, Shirley also offered makeovers to women in the community — a gesture supporters said helped shift how many people viewed homelessness and the individuals living through it.

In a 2020 interview, she explained that her mission grew beyond appearance-focused outreach into something larger: changing perceptions about what homelessness means. She emphasized that people without housing are not without love or connection, and that stereotypes often erase the complexity of their lives.

In its statement confirming her death, Beauty 2 The Streetz remembered Shirley for 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 underserved populations,” the statement continued. “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.”

Shirley’s daughter, Danielle Williams, also shared a statement, saying her mother’s legacy shows “you don’t have to be perfect to do something powerful and meaningful.”

She added that the family was not asking for donations, but encouraged anyone wishing to honor Shirley to support Beauty 2 The Streetz.