16 December 2023 , 00:45
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Anna "Chickadee" Cardwell tragically died earlier this week after battling cancer.
The 29-year-old was diagnosed with stage four adrenal carcinoma in January. She was best known for appearing in her sister' Alana "Honey Boo Boo" Thompson's reality show.
Her mother, Mama June Shannon, announced her death on Instagram. Her caption stated: "With the breaking heart, we are announcing that @annamarie35 is no longer with us. She passed away in my home last night peacefully at 11:12 PM."
Anna leaves behind two daughters - Kaitlyn, 11, and Kylee, eight - and her husband Eldridge Toney. She married Eldridge shortly after being diagnosed.
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Anna told her husband to take care of her children (Instagram)Eldridge opened up to PEOPLE about Anna's last moments. "Everyone was crying and freaking out because we all knew what was happening,” he said.
“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," Eldridge added.
He added that he promised Anna that he would take care of her daughters and keep her memory alive for them. "Her dying wish was for her girls to grow up knowing who their mother was. And I promised I would do right by the girls always. I will spend my life doing right by Anna and the girls.”
Anna's funeral was attended by friends and family (Instagram)"The day before she passed, we had our talk and said our goodbyes,” he continued.
On Wednesday, Anna's funeral was held in Gordon, Georgia. Her sisters including Alana and Lauryn "Pumpkin" Efird, 23, were in attendance.
Outside the service a sign warned that cell phones were not allowed inside, and if one was found the person would be asked to leave. During the service, a 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."
Anna supposedly asked for an open casket funeral and wanted fans to attend, as she was reportedly close to them. It was also reported that the funeral home fingerprinted her for her family members who wanted to get them tattooed in her honor.