Late Here Comes Honey Boo Boo alum Anna Cardwell’s husband, Eldridge Toney, has taken a huge step in the healing process as he deals with grief 14 months after her death.
Toney opened up about moving out of the house he once shared with Cardwell, who died in 2023 at 29 years old after a battle with cancer, in an interview with People published Thursday, June 12.
“When we moved into that place, that’s when she began the cancer journey,” he explained. “And being at that house, it was just a constant reminder of the cancer.”
Toney said he struggled to exist in the spaces Cardwell once occupied in the months following her death.
“Every day I would get off work, I would just go to my room and just pretty much shut myself out,” he continued. “It got to a point where it just, I couldn’t do it no more.”
Toney, who married Cardwell two months after she was diagnosed with stage IV adrenal carcinoma in January 2023, confirmed that he moved to a new home this February and said it was “probably one of the best things I could have done.”
“’Cause it was just like a new start and just, like, seeing new things and being in a new home. It wasn’t a constant reminder of everything,” he added.
Along with the interview, Toney shared an image of the mantel above the fireplace in his new home, which is filled with photos of himself and Cardwell.
Cardwell, the eldest daughter of Mama June Shannon, died in December 2023, with her mother confirming the news via social media.
“With the breaking heart, we are announcing that @annamarie35 is no longer with us,” Shannon, 45, wrote at the time. “She passed away in my home last night peacefully at 11:12 PM. She gave one hell of a fight for 10 months she passed away with her family around her like she won’t and we will will be updating y’all with more information as we get it today. We love y’all and continued prayers and thoughts for our family doing this difficult time.”
Toney, who had been in a relationship with Cardwell since 2017, revealed his late wife’s dying wish in an interview with People in December 2023.
“The day before she passed, we had our talk and said our goodbyes,” Toney said. “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 was the mom of daughters Kaitlyn, 12, whose father has not been publicly named, and Kylee, 9, whom the reality star shared with ex-husband Michael Cardwell. Michael, 33, currently has full custody of Kylee.
Toney said he tried to remain “calm” for Anna just before her passing.
“Everyone was crying and freaking out, because we all knew what was happening,” he told the outlet. “I rubbed my hands through her hair, held her hand and told her it was going to be OK. I was holding her hand when she took her final breath.”
