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Sheinelle Jones Says Her Heart Is “Shattered” After Husband Uche Ojeh’s Death
Sheinelle Jones is feeling the love.
As the Jenna & Sheinelle co-host celebrated her first birthday since her husband Uche Ojeh died of brain cancer last May, she shared an honest look at the overwhelming emotions of the day.
“Today is my 48th birthday, and to be honest—I can’t stop crying,” Sheinelle began her Instagram post, noting she wrote the caption from a plane as she continues the tour for her new book Through Mom’s Eyes. “Thankful tears, painful tears because it’s my first without Uche, and tears full of gratitude reflecting on the last 7 days. I have never felt so much love in my life.”
And indeed, the photo carousel accompanying the post showed Sheinelle at various events on her tour, smiling as she spoke in front of packed crowds.
“Thank you for the prayers and support over the last year,” she continued. “I don’t have the words to express how it feels to have SOLD OUT crowds in every city … and what it feels like to take these group photos with your smiling faces.”
Sheinelle—mom to kids Kayin Ojeh, 16, and 13-year-old twins Clara Ojeh and Uche Ojeh Jr.—also made sure to reserve a special moment for her late husband.
“Uche loved The Beatles; as I mark the beginning of ’48,’” she wrote, “I do... feel the sun. Thank you so so much.”
Nathan Congleton/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
Since Uche’s death at the age of 45, Sheinelle has been candid about the ups and downs in her grief journey.
"People see me on TV and they think 'Oh, she's better,'" she told People in an interview published in January. "It's like, 'Oh, no no. I'm not better.' Every day, it's like swimming through mud."
"Even just to do normal things, to get up and brush your teeth, go to work, have the kids go to school, get dinner on the table, whatever it is, doing that when you're grieving is very difficult," the journalist continued. "I really had to do that work. I recognize that I hold two things: I hold my grief and I also hold this joy. I said it months ago, and I'll say it now: I am fighting for my joy."
Gilbert Carrasquillo/GC Images
But one thing bringing her joy now is the launch of her book, whose subtitle promises to share “Simple Wisdom From Mothers Who Raised Extraordinary Humans.”
And her kids were there to celebrate along with their mom, surprising her with a bouquet of flowers and warm words during Today’s fourth hour on April 14.
As her oldest, Kayin said, “Words can’t even describe it. I’m so happy for you, Mom. You’ve worked on this since quarantine. We’ve had the ups and downs.”
“We’ve obviously gone through so much,” he added, “and I’m so happy for you."
For a look back at Sheinelle and Uche’s sweetest family moments, read on.
Sheinelle Jones/Instagram
Life Partners
Sheinelle Jones often spoke about how she met her husband Uche Ojeh while giving him a tour of campus at Northwestern University when she was just 19.
As Savannah Guthrie noted in Today’s May 23 tribute to the consultant, he was a “remarkable man who was Sheinelle’s perfect partner in life.”
Sheinelle Jones/Instagram
Dedicated to Faith
Throughout his battle with glioblastoma, the Today anchors emphasized that Uche was devoted to his faith as well as his Nigerian heritage. In a post from 2021, Sheinelle shared that all three of their kids dressed in “native Nigerian wear” for their baptism.
Sheinelle Jones/Instagram
That Guy
As the father of kids Kayin, and younger twins Clara and Uche Jr., Uche put his family first.
“He loved those kids more than anything else in this world,” Craig Melvin emphasized in Today’s tribute. “He was just so proud. He was that dad that was on the sidelines of every soccer game, all of the concerts, recitals. He was that guy.”
Sheinelle Jones, Instagram
A “Humble Man”
During Today’s broadcast, Al Roker noted that while Uche was quiet, he was “wickedly funny,” adding, “He was a humble man.”
Sheinelle Jones/Instagram
Biggest Supporter
In a birthday tribute to Uche in 2021, Sheinelle emphasized that her late husband was always by her side.
“When I put in his picture and click ‘search’ on my iPhone ... pretty much ALL of the pics, are of him by my side,” she explained on Instagram. “And/or helping the kids with homework, music or soccer lessons. I am truly thankful to be on this journey with such a beautiful human being.”
Sheinelle Jones/Instagram
Going the Distance
In the Today segment honoring Uche, Savannah emphasized that Sheinelle and Uche overcame obstacles including long distance to make their romance work. And for Sheinelle, it was all worth it. As she wrote in a tribute post to Uche in 2022, “You caught my eye when I was 19 years old …. and here we are.”
Sheinelle Jones/Instagram
Warriors
Amid their hardest battle together, Savannah emphasized that both Sheinelle and Uche were “warriors.”
As Savannah emphasized, Uche was “a man whose joyful spirit and quiet strength complemented Sheinelle in every way.”
Nathan Congleton/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
Saying Goodbye
In a post following the segment announcing Uche’s tragic death, Sheinelle wrote, “Thank you, for all of your love and support.”
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