Sheinelle Jones Supported by ‘Today’ Co-Hosts at Husband’s Funeral

NEED TO KNOW

• Sheinelle Jones’ husband, Uche Ojeh, died of glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, on Friday, May 23
• That day, her Today show colleagues announced his death on behalf of Jones to viewers
• Jones’ colleagues were spotted alongside her at Ojeh’s funeral on Friday, May 30 in New York City

Sheinelle Jones’ Today show colleagues continue to stand by her side following her husband Uche Ojeh’s death.

Ojeh (full name Uchechukwuka Adenola Ojeh) died of brain cancer on Friday, May 23. He was 45. 

His funeral was on Friday, May 30, in New York City. Jones’ coworkers Savannah Guthrie, Craig Melvin, Al Roker, Jenna Bush Hager and Hoda Kotb attended the service in remembrance of Ojeh.

Photos show the emotional group leaving the service, per the New York Post. A teary Melvin was photographed holding a tissue, while Bush Hager, 43, stood beside him, and Kotb, 60, Roker, 70, and his wife, Deborah Roberts, were behind them. Another image showed Guthrie, 53, teary-eyed, descending the church steps.

Al Roker, Sheinelle Jones, Craig Melvin and Dylan Dreyer on Monday, November 5, 2024.

Nathan Congleton/NBC

Guthrie announced with “profound sadness” that Jones’ husband of 18 years, died after a “courageous battle” with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, on May 23. They share three kids: 15-year-old Kayin and 12-year-old twins Clara and Uche.

Guthrie was joined by Today co-hosts Carson Daly, Dylan Dreyer, Roker, Bush Hager and Melvin, 46, as she shared the news and they reflected on how “strong” Jones has been. “Sheinelle has been so strong through all of this, as was Uche,” Guthrie said.

“There are no words for the pain we feel for Sheinelle and their three young children. Uche was an incredible person,” Guthrie continued. “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.”

“We just want to say Sheinelle, Kayin, Uche and Clara and the Ojeh family: we are with you, we love you,” she said. “You are our family and we’re just sending all of our love to you right now.”

Several of Jones’ colleagues reiterated Guthrie’s sentiments. Daly, a father of four, reflected on the death of his 46-year-old father when he was 5 years old.

“You think so much about these young children, your heart goes out to them,” Daly said. “So I pray for their family and the kids that they’ll have that fortune as well.”

Melvin provided insight into his friendship with Ojeh and explained how he was a devoted father.

“One thing he always talked about, he talked about those kids. He loved those kids more than anything else in this world and was just so proud,” Melvin said. “He was that dad that was on the sidelines of all the soccer games. He was at all the concerts and the recitals. He was that guy.”

In the wake of the announcement, Jones shared a message on social media on Friday, May 23. “Thank you, for all of your love and support. ❤️” Jones captioned a video of the Today segment.

Sheinelle Jones and husband Uche Ojeh celebrate Easter with their children in 2022.

Sheinelle Jones/ Instagram

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Jones and Ojeh first crossed paths at Northwestern University. Jones met Ojeh when she was a freshman in college, while he was still a high school senior visiting the university, Jones said in an interview for the campus magazine’s winter 2024 edition.

After dating for eight years, he proposed on the campus of their alma mater in the middle of a rainstorm. The couple tied the knot in 2007.