By Eve Backlund, Dailymail.Com
Updated: July 5, 2024 17:52, July 5, 2024 22:50
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Lauryn “Pumpkin” Efird’s husband was concerned about her mental state while she was struggling with the death of her sister, Anna “Chickadee” Cardwell, at 29, from cancer.
In a new teaser for the Friday, July 5, episode of “Mama June: Family Crisis,” first obtained by People magazine, Josh Efird is seen breaking down in tears as he watches his wife of 24 years choose a container for Chickadee’s ashes.
Josh asks Lauryn to watch a movie as he scrolls through his iPad, saying, “It’s not really something I want to watch, but it’s for Anna’s ashes.”
Josh says: “I’ve worked with Pumpkin for almost 10 years and seen a lot of damage in that time, but losing Anna was the worst thing I’ve ever seen.”
“I’m thinking tomorrow she’s going to wake up and want to do something and want to eat.” [and] Then they won’t come.
“We’ve been doing everything we can around the house to distract the kids, but they desperately need Mama P back.”
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Lauryn said her sister’s death made her realise everything could change “in an instant”, saying:[Anna’s] My children live in different places, and I don’t want my family or children to worry about that.
“At least my eyes are open. I’m trying to be prepared for that moment in mine and Josh’s life and everything. You literally never know what’s going to happen tomorrow.”
“Who will raise my children, my mother? [Mama June Shannon]”That’s not what I want,” she told Josh, suggesting he get a lawyer and draw up a will.
Josh broke down in tears and said, “Anna’s death at 29 is such a huge shock. I’m scared to get my priorities straight. I’m really scared. Pumpkin and I need to act fast.”
Mama June, 44, opened up to People magazine about her “dysfunctional” family after Chickadee died from stage four adrenal cancer in December last year.
“We’re dysfunctional,” she said, “but like I said, it’s always been just us.”
“So no matter what difficulties and arguments and whatnot, all we have left is us,” Mama June added.
She explained that it had always been just her and her daughters, adding, “Their father is not involved or anything like that.”
“So today, [my husband] Justin [Stroud] “He dumped me, Josh dumped Pumpkin, Doralyn dumped Pumpkin, Cheyenne dumped Pumpkin, we’re all going to move into the same house with our babies and just get on with life,” Shannon said.
Mama June also shared Stroud’s “favorite quote” about the unique family: “I’ve never seen a family like this.”
“We can sit here and argue, and then an hour later we’re on the phone and talking like nothing happened,” Shannon explained.
Chickadee’s mother announced her death on Instagram in December. “It is with deep sadness that I announce that @annamarie35 is no longer with us,” she began.
“She passed away peacefully at my home last night at 11:12pm,” Mama June added.
“She fought desperately for 10 months and passed away surrounded by her family. [wanted[ and we will will be updating y’all with more information as we get it today.’
Shannon concluded, ‘We love y’all and continued prayers and thoughts for our family [during] To help us get through this difficult time.
Chickadee underwent chemotherapy and immunotherapy and revealed last summer that his cancer was terminal.
Meanwhile, she married her partner Eldridge Toney in Wilkinson County, Georgia on March 4, 2023, while she was still in good health.
The final hours of her life, spent in hospice care, were filmed for her family’s show, “Mama June: A Family in Crisis.”
After Mama June was awarded custody of Chickadee’s daughters Kaitlyn Elizabeth, 11, and Kylie Madison, 8, her ex-husband Michael Cardwell filed a lawsuit seeking custody of their daughter Kylie.
In addition to Chickadee, Mama June is also mother to 27-year-old Jessica Shannon, 24-year-old Lauryn Efird, and 18-year-old Alana “Honey Boo Boo” Thompson.
