The grieving husband of Anna ‘Chickadee’ Cardwell has spoken out after she passed away at the age of 29.
Anna, the daughter of Mama June Shannon, had been diagnosed with stage four adrenal carcinoma earlier this year.
Taking to Instagram, Mama June announced the passing of her daughter and wrote: “With a breaking heart, we are announcing that @annamarie35 is no longer with us. She passed away in my home last night peacefully at 11:12PM.”
Anna leaves behind her husband, Eldrige Toney, and two children, Kylee, 8, and Kaitlyn, 11.
Sharing the final moments of his late wife, Eldrige said in an interview with PEOPLE: “Everyone was crying and freaking out because we all knew what was happening. I did my best to be calm for her. I rubbed my hands through her hair, held her hand, and told her it was going to be OK.”
The grieving husband also said that Anna’s final wish was for her daughters to grow up knowing their mom.
“I promised I would do right by the girls always. I will spend my life doing right by Anna and the girls,” he continued.
Anna’s funeral was held in Gordon, Georgia. Her sisters, Lauryn ‘Pumpkin’ Efird, and Alana ‘Honey Boo Boo’ were in attendance.
Her wish for an open casket was also honored and she also wanted her fans to attend. According to reports, the funeral home also took her fingerprints for loved ones who wanted to get them tattooed in her honor.
During the service, a heartfelt poem titled ‘Broken Chain’ was read. It included the line: “Our family chain is broken, and nothing seems the same, but as God calls us one by one, the chain will link again.”
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