Sheinelle Jones Mourns Her Grandmother, 7 Months After Husband Uche’s Death

Sheinelle Jones is mourning the death of her beloved grandmother, Josephine Vonceal Pace Brown, whom she described as her “best buddy” and “unapologetic cheerleader.”

Brown died early in the morning on New Year’s Eve at the age of 96, the newly minted Today with Jenna & Sheinelle host announced on Instagram on Saturday, Jan. 3. Her death comes just seven months after Jones, 47, lost her husband, Uche Ojeh, who died at age 45 in May 2025 after being diagnosed with glioblastoma.

“It is with the heaviest heart that I announce the sudden passing of my grandmother,” Jones wrote on Instagram as she shared an emotional tribute to Brown. “Anyone who knows me, knows that ‘Grandmama,’ Josephine Vonceal Pace Brown, was my world; my best buddy, my confidante and my unapologetic cheerleader.”

After promising to share some stories “in time” about how her late grandmother’s “advocacy changed the trajectory” of her education — and how Brown “lit up” when Jones told her in fifth grade that she wanted to become a news reporter — the TV anchor shared that her grandmother’s belief in her motivated her in life.

“What makes our relationship extra special is the fact that she was so attentive, beyond the backdrop of a highly successful life of her own,” Jones continued, noting that Brown was the first Black woman to be elected to the Board of Education, a classically trained pianist and the director of music ministry at Jones’ church “for as long as I can remember.”

She said her grandmother “started a choir called A.R.I.S.E. – African Americans Renewing Interest in Spiritals, Ensemble,” which continues to perform to this day, from Washington, D.C., to Paris.

Referencing her late grandfather, whom she said was among the first Black doctors in the family’s town, Jones shared how he and Brown both “exemplified what it means to squeeze the most out of life and to give.”

“Life is so precious, and I can’t help but to be changed by the last year and a half,” Jones continued, reflecting on the loss of both her husband and grandmother.

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She concluded her tribute to Brown: “Heaven has gained a new choir director, and our family – a new angel.”

Jones’ Instagram post featured a collection of photos, showing her grandmother at different points in her life and highlighting her many accomplishments. She also included sweet family photos, such as shots of Brown posing with her kids and with Ojeh. The carousel also featured a snapshot of Brown smiling alongside Jones and Ojeh on their wedding day in 2007.

Months after her Today colleagues announced her husband’s death during the NBC morning show’s May 23 live broadcast, Jones spoke out about her family’s loss for the first time in a pre-taped interview with Savannah Guthrie that aired on Sept. 5.

She described Ojeh’s death as “a beautiful nightmare.”

“My heart is shattered in a million pieces,” Jones told Guthrie at the time. “The life that I’ve known since I was 19 is no more. I’ve always wanted kids, and I have three kids of my own now, and they’ve lost their dad. And I’m their mom. It sucks.”

She said she was taking things “day to day” as she navigated her grief alongside son Kayin, 16, and twins Clara and Uche, 13.

Jones also shared how she wanted to serve as an inspiration for others facing similar tragedies.

“Cancer doesn’t have to steal our joy. We can get up, we can get out of bed, and we can go to work, we can go to school, we can squeeze the most out of the days that we have. And honestly, I feel like Uche’s heartbeat lives on in mine,” she said. “So I owe it to him to just squeeze the most I can out of this thing.”