Sheinelle Jones Details “Fighting” for Joy After Uche Ojeh’s Death

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Sheinelle Jones is trying her best.

Seven months after losing her husband, Uche Ojeh, to glioblastoma at age 45, the co-host of Today With Jenna & Sheinelle opened up about how she’s coping with her grief.

Sheinelle, mother to Kayin, 16, and 13-year-old twins Clara and Uche, explained to People magazine that people often assume she has it all together when they see her on television. ‘They think, ‘Oh, she’s doing great,’ but that’s not the reality,’ she said in an interview published January 14th. ‘Every day feels like a real struggle.’

She explained that even everyday tasks – like getting ready in the morning, going to work, or taking care of family – felt incredibly challenging while she was grieving. She emphasized the importance of actively working through her emotions, acknowledging that she could experience both sadness and happiness at the same time. She reiterated that she’s determined to find and hold onto moments of joy, even amidst her grief.

Since Sheinelle recently started co-hosting the fourth hour of the show with Jenna Bush Hager, her colleagues have been incredibly supportive.

She explained that she and Jenna share a strong bond, offering each other support and reassurance. She described how far she’s come, saying the contrast between her struggles just months ago and her happiness today would be unbelievable.

The 47-year-old, who had taken time off from Today while her husband Uche was ill, also shared her thoughts on dealing with grief as a mother.

She shared that she was really questioning the kind of person she wanted to become. She thought about how she’d be remembered, not just by herself, but especially by her children. She wondered what kind of mother she wanted them to remember.

Having gone through a difficult time herself, the journalist was able to help her children cope with their own challenges.

Speaking on Today in September, she explained how she helps her children understand grief. She described it as being similar to rain – it won’t last forever. She’s learned to accept sadness when it comes, seeing it as a way to cleanse and clear the air, rather than trying to avoid crying.

She described grief as a natural cleansing process, like a welcome rain. She’s no longer afraid of it, and when sadness arrives, she allows herself to feel it, viewing it as a moment to simply sit with her emotions.

Now that Sheinelle is starting a new chapter, let’s take a look back at how she and Uche fell in love.

Sheinelle Jones frequently shared the story of how she met her husband, Uche Ojeh. She was 19 years old and giving him a tour of Northwestern University when they first connected.

As Savannah Guthrie mentioned on Today’s tribute to him, he was a wonderful person and Sheinelle’s ideal life partner.

During his fight with brain cancer, the hosts of Today highlighted Uche’s strong faith and pride in his Nigerian roots. Sheinelle Jones recalled in a 2021 post that their three children all wore traditional Nigerian clothing for their baptism.

As the father of kids Kayin, and younger twins Clara and Uche Jr., Uche put his family first.

Craig Melvin shared in a tribute on Today that the man loved his children more than anything. He was incredibly proud and always present, attending every soccer game, concert, and recital – he was that dedicated, supportive father.

You know, watching Uche on Today always brought a smile to my face. Al Roker really hit the nail on the head when he described him – Uche was a man of few words, but incredibly witty and genuinely humble. He had this amazing, quiet sense of humor that just lit up the room.

In a 2021 birthday message for Uche, Sheinelle shared that her late husband had always been her constant support.

Okay, seriously, it’s kinda crazy. Whenever I search for him on my phone, almost every single picture that pops up is of us together! It’s either him and me, or him helping the kids with everything – homework, music practice, even soccer! I just feel so incredibly lucky to be sharing my life with someone so amazing. He’s just… perfect.

During a segment on Today, Savannah Guthrie highlighted that Sheinelle Jones and her husband, Uche, successfully navigated the challenges of a long-distance relationship to build a life together. Sheinelle has said it was all worthwhile, recalling how Uche first caught her attention when she was just 19 years old, and how they’ve continued their journey since then.

During their most challenging time, Savannah told Sheinelle and Uche that they were both incredibly strong and resilient fighters.

Savannah highlighted that Uche was a wonderful person whose positive attitude and calm demeanor perfectly balanced Sheinelle’s personality.

After the announcement of Uche’s passing, Sheinelle expressed her gratitude for everyone’s kindness and support.

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2026-01-14 19:19