Jamie McPhee is learning to live again in the shadow of her late husband, James Ransone, who died by suicide on December 19 at the age of 46.
A New Routine With Two Young Children
Less than a week after Ransone’s death, McPhee shared a glimpse of her daily life on Instagram. On December 23 she posted a photo of herself with her six-year-old son Jack and four-year-old daughter Violet at a local mall. She wrote, “They wanted ice cream after the park,” and added that Violet chose a pink backpack while Jack had her buy and build things at the Lego store.
McPhee noted that for the first time in her life people seemed to recognize her. “I heard someone behind me in the food court say, ‘ask her,'” she wrote, describing how strangers approached her for information about Ransone’s passing.
She expressed gratitude that people did not press her for details about her husband’s death. Instead, the experience reminded her that “you never really know what people are going through.”
Grieving While Raising Kids
In a separate Instagram post, McPhee reflected on the paradox of appearing happy while still grieving. She wrote, “In many moments we looked…happy. Normal. Laughing. Smiling,” and added, “How? Not because we aren’t grieving. We are. But because I have two beautiful, incredible children who force me daily to see all the love and all the light that still exists inside of this.”
The post underscored how her children’s presence gives her a reason to keep going, even as the loss of her partner weighs heavily on her.
A Tribute to James Ransone
McPhee addressed her late husband by his nickname, “PJ,” in a heartfelt note that appeared two days after his death, on December 21. She wrote, “I told you I have loved you 1000 times before and I know I will love you again, You told me – I need to be more like you and you need to be more like me – and you were so right.”
She added, “Thank you for giving me the greatest gifts – you, Jack and Violet,” and closed with, “We are forever.”
In another reflection, McPhee recalled the weeks before Ransone left. “In the weeks before you left us, after months of telling me nearly every regret you’d ever carried: every mistake, every f—up, every hurtful thing you thought you’d wrote or said, you burst into tears and said: ‘Babe, you know the most fucked-up thing of all? I actually love everyone,'” she remembered. She continued, “Well babe, it turns out that despite all of it, everyone actually loves you too.”
McPhee also wrote that Ransone’s loss has opened up a flood of stories from friends and family. She said, “His devastating loss has also given so many an unbelievable gift in countless stories about his life from friends and family.” She added, “There are probably a hundred thousand more I still haven’t heard of people reconnecting, Of friendships healing after years of silence. Of truths finally being spoken. Of old pain being brought into the light and somehow… softening.”
Support Resources
The article includes a content warning about suicide. For anyone in crisis, it recommends calling or texting 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or chatting live at 988lifeline.org. Additional resources can be found at SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources.
Key Takeaways
- Jamie McPhee is navigating life after her husband’s suicide while caring for two young children.
- She has found comfort in routine outings, such as visiting a mall and playing with her kids.
- McPhee’s posts reveal how she balances grief with the love and light her children bring.
The story offers a raw, personal look at coping with loss, the power of family, and the unexpected ways grief can open doors for connection and healing.
Closing
Jamie McPhee’s journey illustrates that even in the darkest moments, the presence of children and the support of strangers can help forge a new normal. Her candid reflections remind us that grief is not a solitary path; it is intertwined with love, memory, and the everyday moments that keep us moving forward.
