Lauryn “Pumpkin” Efird’s husband feared for her mental health as she struggled to cope with the death of her sister Anna “Chickadee” Cardwell from cancer at age 29.
In a new sneak peek from the Friday, July 5 episode of Mama June: Family Crisis first obtained by PeopleJosh Efird was seen breaking down in tears as he watched his wife, 24, choose a container to put Chickadee’s ashes in.
Josh asks Lauryn to watch a movie while he browses on his iPad, saying, “It’s not something I really want to watch, but it’s something to put Anna’s ashes in.”
Josh says: ‘I’ve been with Pumpkin for almost 10 years and I’ve seen some damage over the years, but losing Anna has been the worst I’ve seen.
‘I keep thinking that tomorrow he’s going to get up, he’s going to want to do something, he’s going to want to eat (and) then he doesn’t come.
Lauryn ‘Pumpkin’ Efird’s husband feared for her mental health as she struggled to cope with the death of her sister Anna ‘Chickadee’ Cardwell from cancer at age 29.
In a new sneak peek from the Friday, July 5, episode of Mama June: Family Crisis, first obtained by People, Josh Efird was seen breaking down in tears as he watched his wife, 24, pick out a container to put Chickadee’s ashes in.
‘I’m doing everything I can around the house to distract the kids, but it’s like they really need Mamma P back.’
Lauryn said her sister’s death made her realise that everything can change “in the blink of an eye” and said: “(Anna’s) children live in different places. I don’t want my family or my children to ever have to worry about that.”
“At least my eyes are open, and I want to be prepared for that moment in my life or Josh’s life. You’re not promised tomorrow, literally anything can happen.”
“Who’s going to raise my kids? My mom (Mama June Shannon)? I don’t want that,” she tells Josh before suggesting he contact a lawyer to make a will.
Josh bursts into tears and says, “Anna dying at 29 is a huge revelation. Getting your priorities straight is a scary thing. It really is and Pumpkin and I need to get on with it soon.”
Mama June, 44, recently opened up about her ‘dysfunctional‘ The family tells People after Chickadee’s death from stage 4 adrenal cancer in December.
“We’re dysfunctional,” she said. “But we’ve also said before that it’s always been just us.”
“So despite all the struggles and the arguments and all that stuff, we are all we have left,” Mama June added.
Chickadee’s mother announced her death on Instagram in December. “It is with a broken heart that we announce that @annamarie35 is no longer with us,” she began.
Josh asks Lauryn to watch a movie while he browses on his iPad, saying, “It’s not something I really want to watch, but it’s something to put Anna’s ashes in.”
Lauryn said her sister’s death made her realise that everything can change “in the blink of an eye” and said: “(Anna’s) kids live in different places. I don’t want my family or my kids to have to worry about that.”
She said: ‘I’m doing everything I can around the house to distract the kids, but it’s like they need Mamma P to come back safely.’
The couple appears in the photo with their two oldest children.
She explained that it’s “always” been just her and her daughters, adding: “Their parents haven’t been involved and stuff like that.”
“So if today, (my husband) Justin (Stroud) left me, Josh left Pumpkin, Dralin left her, Cheyenne left her, we would all have to move into the same house with the babies and we would just live as ourselves,” Shannon said.
Mom June also shared Stroud’s “favorite saying” about her unique brood: “I’ve never seen a family like this.”
“We can sit here arguing and an hour later we’re calling each other and talking like nothing happened,” Shannon explained.
Chickadee’s mother announced her death on Instagram in December. “It is with a broken heart that we 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 hard for 10 months and passed away with her family around her as she wanted. We will be updating you with more information as we receive it today.”
Shannon concluded: “We love you all and continue to pray and think of our family during this difficult time.”
Chickadee underwent chemotherapy and immunotherapy before revealing last summer that her cancer was terminal.
Meanwhile, she tied the knot with her partner Eldridge Toney on March 4, 2023, in Wilkinson County, Georgia, while she was still feeling well enough.
Chickadee’s final hours, spent in hospice, were filmed for her family’s show Mama June: Family in Crisis.
The final hours of her life, spent in a hospice, were filmed for her family’s show Mama June: Family in Crisis.
After Mama June was granted custody of Chickadee’s daughters, Kaitlyn Elizabeth, 11, and Kylee Madison, 8, her ex Michael Cardwell sued for custody of their daughter Kylee.
In addition to Chickadee, Mama June is mother to Jessica Shannon, 27, Lauryn Efird, 24, and Alana “Honey Boo Boo” Thompson, 18.
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