What Happened to Jacqueline Bernice Mitchell After Her Divorce from Jerry Rice?

Have you ever wondered what happened to Jacqueline Bernice Mitchell, the woman who stood beside NFL legend Jerry Rice for more than 20 years? Many people remember Jerry for his football career, but not many know about Jacqueline — her quiet strength, her struggles, and how she turned her life around.

In this article, we’ll take a simple and honest look at Jacqueline’s life. We’ll start from her childhood, how she met Jerry, their beautiful wedding, and the life they shared. You’ll also learn about the moment that changed her life forever — a serious health crisis after childbirth — and what happened when their marriage ended.

Let’s begin.

Jacqueline Bernice Mitchell Quick Bio

Who Is Jacqueline Bernice Mitchell?

Jacqueline Bernice Mitchell is an American woman who became well-known for being the first wife of NFL star Jerry Rice. But her story doesn’t end there. She is also a strong mother, a survivor, and now, an entrepreneur.

She was born on April 4, 1964, in Starkville, Mississippi. Her life may have started in a small town, but it would soon take her into the spotlight of the sports world. Even though she was once seen at big events and walked the red carpet, Jacqueline always stayed grounded.

Today, people are curious about her because of what she went through — both the highs and the painful lows — and how she quietly built a new life for herself after everything.

Jacqueline’s Childhood and Family Life

Jacqueline grew up in Mississippi. Her parents separated when she was still a young girl. After the split, she was raised mostly by her mother, Gloria Campbell, who later remarried Charles Campbell in 1995.

Her father, known as Coach Mitchell, was a well-known coach at Greenville High School. That’s the same school Jacqueline went to as a teen. In school, Jacqueline stood out — she was a cheerleader and even entered beauty pageants. In fact, in 1984, she won Miss Black Greenville Teen — a proud and shining moment in her youth.

These early experiences helped shape Jacqueline into a confident young woman. She later went on to study at the University of Southern Mississippi, showing that education was important to her too.

How Jacqueline Met Jerry Rice

The love story between Jacqueline and Jerry Rice began back in 1985. At that time, Jerry was already becoming famous while playing football at Mississippi Valley State University. Jacqueline, just 17 years old, was still in high school.

The story goes that Jacqueline asked Jerry for an autograph one day. But instead of just signing his name, Jerry wrote something sweet — and told her she was beautiful. That kind message turned into a real connection.

Soon after, they started dating. Their bond grew strong, even as Jerry’s football career was starting to take off. They stayed together, shared dreams, and supported each other through exciting and busy times.

The Wedding and Early Married Life

After dating for about four years, Jerry proposed to Jacqueline, and the couple got married on September 8, 1987. Their wedding was filled with joy, love, and lots of support from family and friends.

As Jerry became a star player in the NFL, Jacqueline was always there — by his side at events, on the sidelines during games, and at charity programs. She stayed supportive and calm, even when the spotlight was bright.

Their early married life looked picture-perfect. They built a family together while Jerry broke records in football. But behind the happy public image, they also faced struggles that would later come to light.

Jacqueline Bernice Mitchell’s Children with Jerry Rice

Jacqueline and Jerry had three children together. Each one brought happiness and love into their family.

• Their first child, Jaqui Bonet Rice, was born in 1987. She later became a strong businesswoman and now helps run GOAT Fuel, a health drink company she co-founded with her father.

• In 1991, they welcomed Jerry Rice Jr., who followed in his father’s footsteps and played football. Later, he moved into real estate.

• Their youngest, Jada Symone Rice, was born in 1996. Jada studied psychology and now works in the insurance field. She is especially close to her mother and shares loving posts about her online.

Jacqueline has always been a caring and supportive mother. No matter what challenges she faced, she made sure her children grew up with love and strength.

Jacqueline’s Health Crisis After Giving Birth

In 1996, when Jacqueline gave birth to her third child, Jada, something unexpected happened. What started as a normal delivery quickly turned into a life-threatening emergency.

After giving birth, Jacqueline began to bleed heavily. Doctors rushed to perform emergency surgery, but her condition was very serious. She lost a large amount of blood and soon slipped into a coma.

Jacqueline stayed in that coma for three full months. Her family was terrified. Jerry, her husband at the time, spent every day at the hospital, hoping for a sign that she would wake up. When she finally opened her eyes, Jerry said she smiled — and that smile gave everyone hope.

But her journey wasn’t over yet. In the next part of this article, we’ll talk about how Jacqueline slowly fought her way back, step by step — and how her life changed forever.

What Caused the Divorce from Jerry Rice?

After many years together, things changed for Jacqueline Bernice Mitchell and Jerry Rice. Even though they had gone through a lot — including her health crisis — their marriage started to break down.

In 2007, Jacqueline filed for divorce. The reason? Jerry had an affair with a woman named Djakarta Edwards. That relationship led to the birth of a son named Brenden Rice, who is now also a football player. This truth came out during a paternity suit, and Jerry confirmed he was the father.

Sadly, this wasn’t the only affair. During the divorce, other stories came to light about Jerry’s unfaithfulness. For Jacqueline, this was heartbreaking. But she chose to stay strong. She focused on protecting her children and keeping things peaceful, even when things were very hard.

Life After the Divorce

The divorce was finalized in 2009. Jacqueline did not receive monthly alimony, but she got a fair share of Jerry’s wealth as part of the settlement. It gave her a chance to start fresh.

After the divorce, Jacqueline didn’t chase the spotlight. She stayed quiet, away from media and fame. Instead, she gave her energy to her kids, her health, and rebuilding her life. Even though her marriage ended, she still believed in peace, respect, and co-parenting.

Jacqueline and Jerry stayed respectful of each other, especially when it came to their children. They both showed up at family events and did their best to make things easy for the kids.

Starting Her Own Pet Business

In 2023, Jacqueline started something new — her own business. She launched an online pet store called Pet Gear Elite. It sells pet supplies for dogs and cats. But it’s more than just a business. It’s something she built from love.

Jacqueline has six pets of her own. Their names are: Royalty, King Louis, Bleu I.V., Elle V., QoeQoe, and ReignBeaux. She treats them like family. That’s why she wanted to create a brand that helps others take care of their pets too.

Through her business, she also supports animal rescue groups. She donates part of her earnings to help abused, abandoned, and neglected animals all over the world. This shows how kind-hearted and giving Jacqueline truly is.

Where Is Jacqueline Bernice Mitchell Now?

So where is Jacqueline Bernice Mitchell in 2025? She’s living a calm and private life in the United States. She stays away from the spotlight and doesn’t use social media.

But she does show up at family events. In 2023, her daughter Jaqui Bonet shared a sweet Mother’s Day video with her. Her son Jerry Rice Jr. also posted photos with her at family gatherings. It’s clear she’s still deeply loved by her children.

Jacqueline’s life now is all about peace, pets, and purpose. After everything she’s been through, she has found a way to live happily on her own terms.

Jacqueline Bernice Mitchell’s Net Worth Today

Jacqueline hasn’t shared her net worth publicly. But many people believe she is worth a few million dollars. That’s mostly because of her divorce settlement from Jerry Rice, who is worth about $50 million today.

On top of that, she runs her own business — Pet Gear Elite — which likely gives her steady income. She may not live a flashy life, but she seems to be doing well and staying independent.

Her focus is not on wealth or fame. It’s on living a good life, staying strong for her kids, and doing good for others through her work with animals.

Final Thoughts

Jacqueline Bernice Mitchell’s story is not just about being Jerry Rice’s ex-wife. It’s about a woman who went through pain, survived a coma, raised three children, and still found a way to smile and give back.

She didn’t let her health struggles or public heartbreak stop her. Instead, she started fresh, created her own business, and stayed focused on what matters most — family, love, and kindness.

Even though she lives quietly now, many people admire her. Jacqueline shows us that no matter what life throws at you, you can come back stronger.

Her journey is proof that you don’t have to be loud to be powerful. Sometimes, strength speaks quietly — through calm actions, quiet bravery, and never giving up.

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