Sheinelle Jones and Uche Ojeh‘s love story was one for the ages.
The Today cohost and consultant—who were married for 17 years before Ojeh tragically died this week after battling an aggressive form of brain cancer—first crossed paths as teenagers in the late 1990s at Northwestern University in a meet-cute encounter that could be from any romantic comedy.
Jones, who was 18 at the time, offered to give a tour around the Illinois campus to a visiting high school senior—and the rest is history.
Indeed, Jones and Ojeh dated for eight years before getting engaged at their alma mater outside of Chicago. They married in 2007 in Jones’ hometown of Philadelphia and wasted no time starting a family.
The couple welcomed their oldest son, Kayin, in August 2009. Three years later, their twins, son Uche and daughter Clara, were born in July 2012.
A devoted and loving father, soccer player and church choir member, Ojeh also instilled his Nigerian heritage into their kids, who are now mourning the loss of their father, who was diagnosed with glioblastoma last year.
“One thing he always talked about—he talked about those kids,” Jones’ Today cohost Craig Melvin said reflected on the NBC morning news show May 23 after his passing at age 45. “He loved those kids more than anything else in this world, and was just so proud. He was that dad that was on the sideline at every soccer game. He was at all the concerts, the recitals. He was that guy, and they had such a beautiful love story.”
Meanwhile Today‘s Savannah Guthrie admitted “there are no words for the pain that we feel for Sheinelle and their three young children” amid the untimely loss.
“Uche was an incredible person,” Guthrie said. “We all loved him. And so we want to take a moment to tell you more about the remarkable man who was Sheinelle’s perfect partner in life.”
Following Guthrie’s announcement of Ojeh’s death, Jones—who has been absent from Today since January while dealing with her family tragedy—returned to social media with a simple message for well-wishers during this devastating time: “Thank you, for all of your love and support.”
Relive Jones and Ojeh’s timeless love story—including sweet family moments with their three kids—below.
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.”
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.
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.”
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.”
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.”
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.”
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.”
Saying Goodbye
In a post following the segment announcing Uche’s tragic death, Sheinelle wrote, “Thank you, for all of your love and support.”
(E! and Today are both part of the NBCUniversal family)
