Daughter of Ray Charles Visits, Shares Testimony in Montgomery

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By Tamika Bickham

Story Created: Aug 2, 2012 at 10:25 PM CDT

Story Updated: Aug 3, 2012 at 9:49 PM CDT

The daughter of a music legend Ray Charles was in the capital city tonight, sharing her testimony. Sheila Jean Robinson is using her voice to inspire others.

When you hear her voice, it comes as no surprise that Sheila Robinson is the daugther of music legend Ray Charles.

But it's how she got here, standing before the people in Montgomery's Saint James United Methodist Church, that may come as much more of a surprise.

"When you are laying on the concrete floor of federal prison, having literally lost everything in your entire life from your children to your mother to your career," said Robinson.

Sheila Robinson or Sheila Raye Charles as she is also known, says she found herself in federal prison for the third time after a 20 year long addition to crack. In that time, her mom died, her famous father wouldn't talk to her, and all five of her children, three of them born addicted to crack, were taken away from her.

"I called on the name of Jesus. He became more real to me than anything I've ever experienced in my life," said Robinson.

Now she travels the world going back in to the prisons and sharing her story of inspiration. She also spreads the word at meetings like Celebrate Recovery.

"It's a Christ-based program that addresses needs of anybody with any hurts, hangups, or habits," said Celebrate Recovery team member, Chris Henderson.

It's where Todd Knowles found support during a tough time.

"I was actually going through a divorce, recovering from that. It took a real emotional toll on me," said Knowles.

But coming together here, through God and through shared testimony, they say lives are being changed.

Some of the next stops on Robinson's world tour include Africa and India. Her prison ministry is called One Way Up and more information can be found at sheilarayecharles.com/

 
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