Sheinelle Jones is navigating a devastating family death.
The Today cohost’s husband Uche Ojeh recently passed away at age 45 after a “courageous battle with an aggressive form of brain cancer called glioblastoma,” Savannah Guthrie shared during the morning show’s May 23 broadcast.
“There are no words for the pain we feel for Sheinelle and their three young children,” Guthrie said of the couple’s kids Kayin Ojeh, 15, and 12-year-old twins Clara Ojeh and Uche Ojeh. “Uche was an incredible person. 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.”
Moments after the announcement, Jones shared the Today segment on her Instagram, writing, “Thank you, for all of your love and support.”
While the pair kept much of their relationship private, they shared many sweet moments with her Today family behind the scenes.
“One thing he always talked about—he talked about those kids,” Craig Melvin shared on Today. “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,” Melvin added. “He was at all the concerts, the recitals. He was that guy, and they had such a beautiful love story.”
Earlier this month, Jones’ friend and colleague Dylan Dreyer addressed her months-long absence from Today.
“She’s doing all right,” she told E! News at the 2025 Kentucky Derby May 3. “She’s hanging in there. We’re praying for her and her family. You know, she’s just going through a tough time with her family.”
“We talk to her every day,” Dreyer added. “One of us on the team talks to her every single day, and we’re there to support her, and we’ll welcome her back with open arms the second she can get back to us.”
Keep reading for a look back at Jones and Ojeh’s life togehter…
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.”
