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Why Sheinelle Jones Has Been So Candid About Her Grief After Uche Ojeh’s Death
Sheinelle Jones kicked her morning off with a heartwarming celebration.
The Today With Jenna & Sheinelle host commemorated the 14th birthday of her and late husband Uche Ojeh’s twins Clara and Uche with a collection of throwback pictures and a touching message.
“14 years ago today … our lives were forever changed,” Jones wrote on Instagram July 10 alongside a picture from when she was pregnant. “A two for one special!”
The journalist—also mom to 16-year-old Kayin—included a range of pics from throughout her kids’ childhood, from when they were born until today.
“I remember placing the twins at the foot of my hospital bed… staring at them in awe … in their little onesies,” the 48-year-old continued. “In the 5th picture, my husband had native wear made for their baby dedication at church; in the 9th pic... I remember their pre school graduation just like it was yesterday.”
Despite living so much life together, the Through Mom’s Eyes author admitted she can’t believe she already has three high school-aged kids.
“I am so thankful to be their mom … clearly,” she added. “I even wrote a book about it.”
And with a heartfelt reminder, she concluded, “All 3 of my children will always be my babies …. no matter how big they get!”
Sheinelle Jones/Instagram
While Jones was eager to celebrate her twins on their birthday, she recently admitted that she’s made an effort to protect her kids following the death of their dad, who died in May 2025 following a battle with brain cancer.
“The truth of the matter is, honestly, I’m a mama bear, a mama lion,” she said on Today With Jenna & Sheinelle in April. “I’m very protective of them, so the pictures over the last year and a half that I’ve released or we show, they’re little.”
Sheinelle Jones/Instagram
However, after her kids surprised her on the show to celebrate the launch of her book, Jones accepted that they’re turning into young adults.
“So yesterday when they walked out, it was like, ‘Oh!’ And even for me, it was like, ‘Look at these boys. They’re turning into young men,’” she continued. “And Clara was so sweet. It was just one of the most special moments of my life.”
Read on for a look back at some of Jones’ cutest family photos through the years.
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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