By Lillie Jaenchen
TODAY show co-host Sheinelle Jones’ husband, Uche Ojeh, has died from an aggressive form of brain cancer. He was 45.
“With profound sadness, we share this morning that Uche Ojeh, the husband of our friend and TODAY co-host Sheinelle Jones, has passed away after a courageous battle with an aggressive form of brain cancer called glioblastoma,” Savannah Guthrie said on the show this morning.
The Mayo Clinic describes glioblastoma as “a type of cancer that starts as a growth of cells in the brain or spinal cord. It grows quickly and can invade and destroy healthy tissue.”
“There are no words for the pain we feel for Sheinelle and their three young children,” Guthrie continued. “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.”
Jones has been absent from the TODAY show since December, telling fans in January she was dealing with a “family health matter” but was grateful for the support of her TODAY show colleagues and fans.
Ojeh leaves behind Jones and their three children.
“We had a number of conversations about just life in general,” co-anchor Craig Melvin recalled of his and Ojeh’s conversations while golfing last fall. “And one thing he always talked about, he talked about those kids.”
Jones shared the clip of her colleagues breaking the news on Instagram, writing, “Thank you, for all of your love and support. ❤️”
“Uche was an extraordinary person. Full of light and heart and faith,” Guthrie wrote in the comments. “Sheinelle, my dearest, we love you and the kids with all of our hearts. I marvel at your strength. You are surrounded by love now and forever.”
TV personality Tamron Hall said, “Sheinelle our prayers and love are with you and your family.”
The List reported that Jones and Ojeh met at Northwestern University “when Jones, a freshman at the time, gave high school senior Ojeh a tour of the school.”
The couple married in 2007 and welcomed their first child, son Kayin, in 2009. Twins Clara and Uche followed in 2012.
“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 sideline every soccer game. He was at all the concerts and the recitals. He was that guy.”
Please keep Sheinelle Jones, their children and all who love Ojeh in your prayers as the mourn his death.
Read Next: TODAY Hosts Pray ‘All the Time’ for Sheinelle Jones Amid TV Absence
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