“Immediately” pays tribute to cohost Sheinelle Jones’ husband, Uche Ojeh, after he dies from most cancers: ‘You might be our household’

The Today crew is paying tribute to cohost Sheinelle Jones' husband, Uche Ojeh, after saying that he has died from an aggressive type of mind most cancers. Ojeh was 45.

In the course of the NBC morning present's dwell broadcast on Friday, Might 23, Jones' cohosts Savannah Guthrie, Craig Melvin, Al Roker, Carson Daly, Dylan Dreyer, and Jenna Bush Hager got here collectively to honor Ojeh in addition to the brave battle he and his spouse fought after his prognosis.

"[Ojeh] was [Jones'] good match, a person who's joyful spirit and quiet energy complemented Sheinelle in each manner," Guthrie mentioned in a pre-recorded video montage devoted to Ojeh, a managing associate at UAO Consulting. "Uche was the type of one that introduced life, heat, and pleasure to each room."

"Household, buddies, and his deep and abiding religion had been all the time his true north," she added. "He was an enthusiastic soccer participant, sang in his church choir, and was dedicated to his Nigerian heritage, instilling of their kids a deep connection to his cultural roots. Immediately with heavy hearts we have fun his life. Devoted husband, loving father, and a person whose generosity of spirit touched all who knew him."

Jones and Ojeh, whose full title was Uchechukwuka Adenola Ojeh, had been school sweethearts who first met at Northwestern College within the late '90s when she, then a freshman, provided to point out him, a visiting highschool senior, round campus. The couple married in Jones' hometown of Philadelphia in 2007, and went on to welcome three kids: son Kayin, 15, and fraternal twins Clara and Uche, 12.

Guthrie praised Jones, 47, for being "so sturdy" all through her husbands's wrestle with the illness, including, "As was Uche."

Hager advised viewers that Jones had "discovered the grace within the grief, which isn’t straightforward," saying she "utterly impressed" her cohosts.

"There are not any phrases for the ache that we really feel for Sheinelle and their three younger kids," mentioned Guthrie. "Uche was an unimaginable particular person. All of us cherished him … We simply wish to say, Sheinelle, Kayin, Uche, and Clara, and the Ojeh household: We’re with you. We love you. You might be our household, and we're simply sending all of our like to you proper now."

Roker recalled how "wickedly humorous" Ojeh was, telling viewers, "He would say issues that type of caught you off guard, however wasn't braggadocios or something. He was a really humble man."

Melvin, who was shut buddies with Ojeh, added, "He cherished these youngsters greater than anything on this world, and was simply so proud. He was that dad that was on the sideline of each soccer recreation. He was at the entire concert events and the recitals. He was that man."

Whereas Jones hasn't launched a proper assertion about her husband's dying, she shared the video of her cohosts' message on Instagram with the caption: "Thanks for all your love and help. ❤️"

The Immediately present's Instagram account responded with, "We love you, Sheinelle. 🧡"

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Jones has been absent from the Today since mid-December. She first joined the networkin 2014 and sometimes cohosts the third hour of the present alongside Roker, Melvin, and Dreyer. In January, she took to Instagram to clarify to her followers that she was taking good care of a "household well being matter."

"Hello everyone … I sincerely admire all of you who’ve reached out whereas I've been absent from the present," Jones wrote. "It's not misplaced on me how fortunate I’m to haven’t solely the help of my Immediately present household, however to even have all of you. Your kindness means a lot to me. I'll see you quickly."

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