Rhonda McCullough- 7 Facts About Bernie Mac’s Wife Since He Died

On August 9, 2008, fans of one of the most celebrated actors, Bernie Mac were left broken-hearted following the death of the comedian. For Rhonda McCullough, the pain of the tragedy was even more because she was more than just a fan; she was his wife.

The couple had been together since 1977 when they got married and were blessed with a beautiful daughter before the actor finally succumbed to nature. Many years since the death of Bernie, his wife and daughter have picked up the pieces and have continued with their lives. We look at some facts about her that capture how life has been for her before and after the death of Bernie.

Facts About Rhonda McCullough

1. The early life of Rhonda McCullough

A lot about the early life of Rhonda McCullough has not been revealed. We know, however, that she was born in 1959 and her mother is Mary Simmons and she was brought up alongside a younger sister. She got her education from Chicago Vocational High School.

Rhonda McCullough-Gilmore’s early career has not been revealed but the good cook later became a film producer behind works such as I Ain’t Scared of You: A Tribute to Bernie Mac (2011), Unsung Hollywood (2014), and Biography (1987).

2. How she met and got married to Bernie Mac

Bernie and Rhonda might have been married for 30 years, but they were together for even much longer. They started dating when they were both in high school. They met when they were schooling at the Chicago Vocational High School.

Bernie was a grade ahead of her when they were in school. After they met, the comedian did not make an attempt at chasing her, but she revealed that she pushed for it and soon they started having lunch together. Next, they were inseparable. Considered to be soulmates, they got married in 1977 after she graduated from high school and remained together until the death of the actor.

3. She shared a child with the late actor

The marriage between Rhonda and the King of Comedy as Mac was known before his death, was blessed with a daughter, Je’Niece McCullough who was born on 21 January 1978. When she was born, her father was not a famous comedian. In fact, it was until she was 11 that he decided to give comedy a shot, having had difficulty chasing other things.

Today, she describes herself as a writer and healer.

4. Her former husband lost his life to pneumonia

Bernie’s life was cut short at the age of 50 following pneumonia. The actor and comedian was first diagnosed with a disease known as Sarcoidosis in 1983 which affected his lungs. It would later contribute to pneumonia to take his life away in 2008.

Life became very hard for her after the death of Bernie. She mourned for a long time while family and friends consoled her.

5. Rhonda has gotten married a second time

Three years after the death of Bernie Mac, his former wife Rhonda got married to a man known as Horace Gilmore. The manner in which the two first met is very interesting. One morning, Rhonda’s younger sister called to tell her she had met the man that was going to become her next husband. Charoni Gibbs was making reference to Horace.

Although at the time, in February 2009, Rhonda had no intention of dating anyone or getting married again, when she later met Horace during a party, they both fell in love, and during their first date, they spent 13 hours. After dating for a while, they got married in 2011.

Rhonda may not have the love for cooking in common with her current husband, but they both have shared experiences when it comes to the loss of loved ones. Not a long time after Bernie Mac died, the wife of Horace also died.

6. She is a grandmother

Rhonda is a grandmother to Jasmine Childress who was only 8 months when Bernie Mac died. Jasmine was born by Je’Niece McCullough in 2007. According to McCullough, her late husband is living through the spirit of their granddaughter who she reveals has taken so much after him. She also loves being in front of people and is never shy.

According to Je’Niece, she had never wanted to have any child after she got married but she had a vision where a child told her it was ready to be born. That vision encouraged her to take in and she gave birth to her beautiful daughter.

7. McCullough is behind the Bernie Mac Foundation

To keep the memory of her husband alive, Rhonda McCullough-Gilmore founded the Bernie Mac Foundation which is dedicated to elevating awareness and supporting research for Sarcoidosis and also to “to perpetuate the legacy of philanthropy espoused by the late Bernard J. McCullough.”