Mama June Shannon and her family to take Anna ‘Chickadee’ Cardwell’s ashes with them to Disney World for Christmas amid custody battle with Anna’s ex-husband
Mama June Shannon and her family are heading to Disney World for Christmas, taking with them a memento of the late Anna “Chickadee” Cardwell.
The reality star, 44, who is being sued by Anna's ex-husband, Michael Cardwell, for custody of granddaughter Kaitlyn, is making the trip to Orlando, Florida, in accordance with her daughter's final wishes, according to TMZ.
A source told the newspaper that the family had discussed making the trip to the “happiest place on earth” before Anna died of stage four adrenal carcinoma on December 9 at the age of 29, and that she left some of her ashes will take.
Cardwell and daughter Kylee, eight, who he shared with Anna, have reportedly been invited, but it is unclear whether they will attend.
Anna's daughter Kaitlyn, 11, from a previous relationship, lives with her grandmother.
Mama June Shannon and her family go to Disney World for Christmas and take some of the late Anna 'Chickadee' Cardwell's ashes with them
Alana “Honey Boo Boo” Thompson, 18, and her boyfriend Dralin Carswell are reportedly making the trip to Florida, along with Lauryn “Pumpkin” Efird and her family.
It's unclear if Anna's husband Eldridge Toney will be involved in the festivities.
Mama June is reportedly considering sending Kaitlyn to therapy to deal with her mother's death and her divorce from her sister.
“The sisters called each other and mourned together,” says an insider TMZ on Monday.
The family has been quiet on social media since Anna's death, but June did make a video post encouraging interested fans to send gifts or cards to her mailbox in Gordon, Georgia.
It was that video that apparently led to June's former brother-in-law, Lee “Uncle Poodle” Thompson, speaking out and accusing the Toddlers and Tiaras star of seeking custody of Kaitlyn for personal gain.
“I've seen the videos June has posted asking for fans to send gifts to the girls, and some fans have lashed out at her,” Lee shared. The American sun in an interview published on Thursday, December 21.
“I'm sure Anna wanted Michael to have the kids.”
TMZ reported that the trip was planned before Anna “Chickadee” Cardwell's death earlier this month at age 29, and the family is moving forward with the plan in accordance with her wishes
June is being sued for custody of Anna's eldest daughter, Kaitlyn, 11, by Anna's ex-husband Michael Cardwell, who shared Kylee, eight, with the late reality star. “The sisters called each other and mourned together,” an insider told TMZ on Monday
June's former brother-in-law supports Cardwell in his custody battle. “Michael is the best person to have the two girls,” Lee “Uncle Poodle” Thompson told The US Sun. “I know Michael, he's a good guy, and that's where the kids need to be.”
“Michael is the best person to get the two girls,” said Lee, brother of Alana's father, Mike “Sugar Bear” Thompson.
Anna was born just days before June's 15th birthday and was raised by her grandmother for most of her life. As an adult, Anna went through periods of estrangement from June onwards, but the two reconciled in the months before her death.
In court documents filed by Michael Cardwell, he claimed that Kaitlyn's relationship with June had been “inconsistent.”
“I know Michael, he's a good guy,” Thompson said, “and that's where the kids need to be.”