Mama June Shannon Reveals Anna Cardwell’s Daughters Haven’t Seen Each Other Since Her Funeral

Family turmoil continues for June “Mama June” Shannon following the death of her daughter, Anna “Chickadee” Cardwell, who passed away in December 2023.

Shannon, 45, was awarded custody of her 12-year-old granddaughter Kaitlyn following a tense legal fight, but the outcome has brought little peace.

According to the reality star, Kaitlyn has not seen her half-sister, 9-year-old Kylee, since their mother’s funeral last December.

“Unfortunately not,” Shannon told PEOPLE when asked whether the siblings are able to spend time together. “It’s not due to us.”

The court battle pitted Shannon against Michael Cardwell, Kylee’s father, who helped raise Kaitlyn after beginning a relationship with Anna when Kaitlyn was just eight months old.

Michael had sought custody of Kaitlyn, but a judge ruled in Shannon’s favor in September 2023, citing his lack of “significant financial support,” according to court documents.

“I hated that we had to go through that,” Shannon said. “We couldn’t sit down and talk things out and come to an agreement, as much as I had begged for that. But it is what it is. It ain’t what it ain’t.”

Shannon now believes she honored her late daughter’s wishes.

“At the end of the day, I knew what Anna wanted, and we just went and did it,” she said. “We had no other choice.”

Michael has yet to publicly comment on the ruling. Anna died at the age of 29 years old in December 2023 following a 10-month battle with stage 4 adrenal carcinoma. Shannon announced her daughter’s passing in a Facebook post, explaining that Anna died at home, “surrounded by her family and the people that she wanted around her.”

In that same post, Shannon shared a final family photo that she captioned: “We love you, Anna. This was our last family photo together that we will always treasure. She gave one hell of a fight.”

 

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“She is still in our family group chat text,” she shared of her late daughter. “Just can’t and won’t delete any text and won’t ever take her out of the chat.”

Shannon also claims to revisit Anna’s TikTok account often. “I like to watch her videos all the time and search her name to see all the videos people made for her,” the Here Comes Honey Boo Boo alum shared.

“Would give my last penny to just talk to her,” she added. “And for her to be here for her girls.”

Anna’s youngest sister, Alana “Honey Boo Boo” Thompson, 18, also mourned her sister publicly following her death, writing on Instagram, “Anna was in so much pain last night but now… she is at peace.”

Season 7 of Mama June: Family Crisis is now airing on WeTV.