Maria Shriver is praising her friend Sheinelle Jones.
The author, 69, took to Instagram to share a heartfelt message following the death of the NBC correspondent’s husband Uche Ojeh.
“This morning, you likely heard the heartbreaking news for my friend @sheinelle_o and her family,” Shriver began. “The love of her life, her partner, the father of her kids, Uche Ojeh, lost his battle with brain cancer.”
Explaining how the 47-year-old stood by her husband’s side until the end, the journalist wrote, “Sheinelle was a courteous caregiver, there around the clock, caring, loving, showing up 24/7 for him and for their kids.”
“She got him the best medical care. She did everything right, and still, here we are. My heart breaks for her and everyone who has walked this path. May we hold her in our hearts and our prayers. May we give her and her family the strength and the privacy they need to begin a new journey without the love of their lives.”
Jones and Ojeh tied the knot in 2007 and share three kids: 14-year-old Kayin and 12-year-old twins Clara and Uche. Shriver went on to share that through it all, she admires the mom of three.
“I admire how she stepped up,” continued Shriver. “Every time I spoke with her, she kept saying how she was trying and how critical it was for her to be there for every second for every moment. What a love. What a powerful thing to care for someone when they need it most. God bless you, my friend, and god bless all of you who know what she is going through, because you have walked the same journey.”
Along with the touching sentiments, the former First Lady of California shared a photo of herself with Jones, a second snap alongside Jones, Craig Melvin, and Al Roker and a sweet family shot of Jones, Ojeh and their kids.
Savannah Guthrie announced the heartbreaking news of Ojeh’s death on the “Today” show on Friday.
“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,” the journalist, 53, said through tears.
“There are no words for the pain we feel for Sheinelle and their three young children. Uche was an incredible person,” she 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.”
Following news of the triathlete’s death, multiple sources told The Post Ojeh was in hospice before he passed and put up a “brave fight.”
Fans speculated something was awry after Jones revealed in January that she would be stepping back from the third hour of “Today” for an extended time due to a family matter.
“I sincerely appreciate all of you who have reached out while I’ve been absent from the show. I want to share with you that I’m taking time to deal with a family health matter,” she wrote on Instagram at the time.
As Jones put it, “It’s not lost on me how lucky I am to have not only the support of my ‘Today’ show family, but to also have all of you.”
The reporter added, “Your kindness means so much to me. I’ll see you soon.”
Shortly after, an insider shared with People that the situation was “serious.”
“Sheinelle appreciates the support she’s received from fans and viewers in her absence,” the source noted. “She’s especially grateful for her tight-knit ‘Today’ show family and co-hosts, for all their love during a sensitive time.”
Jones and Ojeh first met in the late ’90s during college at Northwestern University, with the anchor detailing the coy way she found out who the hunk on campus was back in the day.
“I was a fake tour guide … I was just walking to class,” Jones said during an interview with Northwestern’s campus magazine in 2024. “[I was like, ‘Are you guys lost?’ And] I told him I would take him around because he was cute.”
The pair dated for eight years, before Ojeh popped the question at their alma mater. He proposed during a rainstorm – which left Jones surprised to say the least.
“I thought I knew when it was coming, twice, and it didn’t happen,” she confessed during a 2018 “Today” show segment.
Prior to the real engagement, Ojeh once surprised Jones with Tiffany’s jewelry – which she assumed was that ring. The second time, the on-air personality thought it was happening while on a trip to Cancun, Mexico.
In September 2023, Jones gushed over her partner in honor of their anniversary.
“Happy Anniversary Uche – it’s amazing how life works sometimes … ” she penned. “I was born in Philly … moved away as a baby … visited my father every summer after my parents separated … but I never imagined I’d end up having some of the best years of my life and career there, getting married in Philly, and ultimately having 3 kids at the same hospital where I was born. We’ve created beautiful memories…. here’s to a lifetime more. 16 years!”
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
