Jacqueline Bernice Mitchell is an American entrepreneur best known as the former wife of NFL star Jerry Rice. The couple married in 1987 and had three children before their divorce was finalized in 2009.
Jacqueline Bernice Mitchell also survived a serious medical emergency after giving birth to their youngest daughter, Jada, in 1996. She spent months in a coma and went through a long recovery. In recent years, she has mostly stayed away from public attention and focused on her family and reported business interests.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Jacqueline Bernice Mitchell |
| Date of birth | April 4, 1964 |
| Age | 62 years old as of 2026 |
| Birthplace | Starkville, Mississippi, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Greenville High School; University of Southern Mississippi |
| Profession | Entrepreneur |
| Marital status | Divorced |
| Ex-husband | Jerry Rice |
| Marriage | September 8, 1987 |
| Divorce | 2009 |
| Children | Jaqui Rice Gold, Jerry Rice Jr., and Jada Rice |
| Known for | Being Jerry Rice’s former wife |
| Net worth | Not reliably known |
Jacqueline Bernice Mitchell’s Age and Early Life
Jacqueline Bernice Mitchell was born on April 4, 1964, in Starkville, Mississippi. She is 62 years old as of 2026.
Some reports identify her parents as Coach Mitchell and Gloria Campbell. Her father reportedly worked as a coach at Greenville High School. Her parents are said to have separated when Jacqueline Bernice Mitchell was young, after which she was mainly raised by her mother.
Reports also say that Gloria later married Charles Campbell in 1995. There is little reliable public information about Jacqueline’s siblings or other parts of her childhood.
Her Education
Jacqueline attended Greenville High School in Mississippi. Some reports say she was a cheerleader and took part in beauty pageants during her younger years. She was also reportedly named Miss Black Greenville Teen in 1984.
She later studied at the University of Southern Mississippi. Some online biographies instead list the University of Mississippi, so there is conflicting information about her college education.
Her Relationship With Jerry Rice
Jacqueline Bernice Mitchell met Jerry Rice before he became one of the biggest names in professional football. Reports place the beginning of their relationship in Mississippi while Jerry was attending Mississippi Valley State University.
They eventually married on September 8, 1987.
Their marriage covered much of Jerry’s professional football career. Jacqueline also joined him at public and charity events. One reported example was a March of Dimes event in 1994.
The couple had three children together during their marriage: Jaqui, Jerry Jr., and Jada.
Who Is Jerry Rice?
Jerry Rice is a former professional football wide receiver. He is best known for his long career with the San Francisco 49ers in the NFL.
Rice also played for the Oakland Raiders and Seattle Seahawks. He became known for his receiving records and won three Super Bowls with San Francisco.
He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010.
Jerry has four children in total. His three children with Jacqueline are Jaqui, Jerry Jr., and Jada. His youngest son, Brenden Rice, was born during Jerry’s marriage to Jacqueline and is the son of Djakarta Edwards.
Jacqueline and Jerry Rice’s Children
Jacqueline Bernice Mitchell and Jerry became parents to three children during their marriage. Their children have followed different paths in business, sports, psychology, insurance, and other fields.
Jaqui Rice Gold
Their eldest child, Jaqui Rice Gold, was born in 1987.
Jaqui studied political science and government at Georgetown University, graduating in 2009. She later attended Fordham University School of Law for a period.
She moved into business and was previously involved with Tressly, a beauty marketplace. In 2020, she helped start G.O.A.T. Fuel with her father and husband, Trevion Gold. She serves as the company’s co-founder and CEO.
Jaqui married Trevion in September 2021. They welcomed a son, Trevion Jay Gold III, known as JJ, on September 1, 2024.
Jerry Rice Jr.
Jerry Rice Jr. was born on July 27, 1991. Like his father, he played football.
He grew up in Atherton, California, and attended Menlo School. He later played college football at UCLA before continuing at UNLV.
Jerry Jr. pursued professional football after college. He spent time with Washington in the NFL and later played in the Canadian Football League.
After leaving football, he moved into real estate and has worked as a realtor in California.
Jada Rice
Jacqueline Bernice Mitchell and Jerry’s youngest child together, Jada Rice, was born on May 16, 1996.
Jada attended the University of San Francisco, earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2018. She also worked as a psychological researcher during college.
She later moved to Texas and worked in the insurance and financial services industries. Her roles have included insurance agent, benefits consultant, financial representative, and senior insurance specialist.
Jacqueline’s Medical Emergency After Jada’s Birth
Jacqueline faced a serious health crisis after giving birth to Jada in 1996.
Jerry Rice later spoke publicly about what happened. He said they expected a normal delivery, but Jacqueline began suffering from severe hemorrhaging. She lost a large amount of blood, and her condition became life-threatening.
Jacqueline eventually fell into a coma that reportedly lasted about three months.
When she woke up, her recovery was far from complete. Reports say she had lost feeling in her legs and faced problems with walking and breathing.
She reportedly used a wheelchair during the first part of her recovery. Over time, she progressed to a walker, crutches, and then a cane. Reports say it took around three years for her to regain her ability to walk independently.
Jerry has said he stayed by her side during this period, noting that Jacqueline had supported him throughout his football career.
Why Jacqueline and Jerry Rice Divorced
Jacqueline Bernice Mitchell and Jerry’s marriage eventually ended after about two decades.
Jacqueline filed for divorce in 2007, and their divorce was finalized in 2009.
Reports have connected their separation to Jerry’s relationship with Djakarta Edwards. Jerry fathered a son, Brenden Rice, with Edwards while he was still married to Jacqueline. Brenden was born on March 18, 2002.
The divorce reportedly involved the division of the couple’s assets. Some secondary sources say Jacqueline did not receive alimony but instead received a share of their marital assets.
The exact financial terms of their divorce have not been reliably made public.
What Did Jacqueline Do After the Divorce?
Jacqueline became much less visible publicly after her marriage ended.
More recent reports describe her as an entrepreneur. One source reports that she founded Pet Gear Elite, an online pet-supply business, in 2023.
The same report says her interest in the business came from her love of animals. It also states that she uses the business to support organizations that help abused, abandoned, and neglected animals.
Public information about the company and Jacqueline’s current professional activities remains limited.
Where Is Jacqueline Bernice Mitchell Now?
Jacqueline Bernice Mitchell has kept a relatively private life since her divorce.
She still appears with her family from time to time. She attended Jerry Rice Jr.’s senior night at UNLV in November 2013, appearing with Jerry Rice, Jerry Jr., and Jada.
Her children have also shared occasional photos and videos involving their mother. Jaqui, for example, shared a Mother’s Day post featuring Jacqueline in 2023.
Her exact current place of residence has not been publicly confirmed.
Does Jacqueline Bernice Mitchell Use Social Media?
There does not appear to be a widely verified public social media account belonging to Jacqueline.
Most recent information and photos of her come through posts shared by her children or other family members.
Jerry Rice’s Life After Jacqueline
Jerry Rice later began a relationship with Latisha Pelayo. The couple dated for years before marrying on October 20, 2019, in Napa Valley, California.
Latisha has worked in the beauty and skincare industry. She and Jerry do not have children together.
Jerry remains connected to all four of his children and has publicly supported their careers and activities.
Interesting Facts
- Jacqueline Bernice Mitchell was born on April 4, 1964, in Starkville, Mississippi.
- She attended Greenville High School.
- She later studied at the University of Southern Mississippi, according to multiple reports.
- She married Jerry Rice on September 8, 1987.
- Their marriage lasted until their divorce was finalized in 2009.
- Jacqueline Bernice Mitchell and Jerry have three children together: Jaqui, Jerry Jr., and Jada.
- She suffered severe hemorrhaging after Jada’s birth in 1996.
- She reportedly spent about three months in a coma.
- Her physical recovery took several years.
- She has been described as an entrepreneur.
- She reportedly founded the pet-supply business Pet Gear Elite in 2023.
- She has mostly stayed away from public attention since her divorce.
- Her personal net worth has not been reliably confirmed.
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