Sheinelle Jones Feels ‘Pressure’ Raising Kids After Husband’s Death

Sheinelle Jones detailed how her life as a mom has changed following the death of her husband, Uche Ojeh, in an emotional interview.

“I would be lying to you if I didn’t tell you there’s this huge hole in our lives, in our hearts,” Jones, 47, said in her first Today show appearance following his death on Friday, September 5. “Trying to learn how to walk and breathe with that, it’s tough.”

Jones recalled her late husband being “the social one” in their relationship.

“He just brings the party and I don’t have to. Now, it’s pretty clear, dad brought the party,” she added. “So I feel a little pressure because I can’t be your dad. I can be the best mom I can be.”

In May, it was announced on Today that Ojeh died at age 45 after a private battle with brain cancer. Jones, an anchor on Today, shared three kids, son Kayin, 16, and twins Clara and Uche, 13, with her late husband.

Jones noted that her kids “lost a dad’s dad” when Ojeh died. She also praised her friends and family who have been “like oxygen,” helping the family.

“They’re all here for us but we can’t replace dad,” she said. “That’s just the truth.”

She explained that the “beautiful days” — when there’s nice weather in New York City — have become the hardest for her.

“He would have taken them out and they would have gone to kick a ball,” she said of her kids.

Jones told viewers that she recently took the kids on their first vacation since Ojeh died and admitted it was “hard.” She thought it would get the family back to their “happy place,” but said it was “a nightmare” for her children.

“It’s been tough,” she added. However, the four of them have become “a unit,” Jones explained. “I look at them, and I know we’re going to be OK.”

Jones said there are some days where she wants to “stay in bed, keep the door closed, not answer my phone,” but she doesn’t — because of her kids.

“I want them to be proud of me,” she said. “I want them to be proud of how I handled it. I kind of feel like I have to keep running.”

Jones added, “For me, somehow I just keep running to my peace. I’m just running to know there’s a time where, hopefully — I don’t know if it’ll ever make sense — but we can just breathe again.”