‘Her name will be spoken’: Charlotte man’s honors late wife

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A Charlotte man is sharing a message of hope after losing his wife last year to brain cancer. 

Ray and Rosalyn Singleton captured the hearts of millions when Ray’s video singing to his wife before surgery went viral. Now, as he continues to cope with her death, Singleton hopes their story will encourage others to keep going. 

It was the love story that stole America’s heart.

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Ray and Rosalyn, known as “Ros,” caught the world’s attention back in 2020 when their story caught on. They even landed on “Ellen” and “America’s Got Talent.” 

“His singing definitely has catapulted my healing in a different direction,” Rosalyn said at the time. 

Rosalyn’s passing drew the support of hundreds of thousands of social media posts. As Ray remembers his wife one year later, he’s hoping their story will serve as a reminder to others that they aren’t alone in the fight. 

“I was literally drawn to her,” Ray said. “Our energies were connected. We were like magnets.”

As their story (and Ray’s singing) went viral, the humble husband insisted he was just a singer in the background to his wife’s resilient battle. After beating brain cancer twice, Rosalyn died last year. 

“You don’t know how you’re going to react or respond to a doctor telling you your wife will die,” he said. 

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He now looks to honor his wife’s memory and support others coping with grief. 

“I still have people who pray for me and support me,” he said. “It is … It is rough sometimes, man. And with the holidays, grief does not go away.”

Counselors say the holidays can be especially challenging for those who have lost a loved one, and there’s no perfect way to grieve. Finding ways to pay tribute can help. 

“If we always used to go to grandma and grandpa’s house and this is the first year we won’t be going there, what does it mean about new traditions that we can create where we can honor them and remember them,” Jackie Greco, a licensed clinical mental health counselor, said. “We can also think about how we can celebrate together as a family.”

For Singleton, telling his and his wife’s love story makes all the difference. 

“Her name will always be spoken. She will always be referred to a superwoman,” Singleton said. “What she did was help people smile and help give people hope.”

If you’re coping with grief, there are options. Consider speaking with a counselor or spiritual advisor if grief becomes overwhelming. You can also call 988, the suicide and crisis lifeline that offers 24-hour support. It’s OK to not be OK. 

Contact Kayland Hagwood at [email protected] and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.

If you or a loved one are facing thoughts of suicide or self-harm, there is help readily available. You can call Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or chat with them online. There are also resources in North Carolina available here and in South Carolina available here.