HAPPY ANNOUNCEMENTđ„łđ„łMama Juneâs Late Daughter Anna Cardwellâs Widower Eldridge Toney OFFICIALLY CONFIRMED he is ENGAGED to girlfriend Jessie
Mama June Shannonâs late daughter Anna âChickadeeâ Cardwellâs widower, Eldridge Toney, is engaged to his girlfriend, Jessie English, and he exclusively spoke to Us Weekly about how he found love after the reality starâs death.
Toney told Us that he started dating English on March 18 after meeting on Tinder. âI wasnât going to make a profile but something was telling me to,â he said.
The two hit it off immediately and have been together ever since. âI finally worked up the courage to propose on Christmas Day,â Toney told Us.
Toney, who lost Cardwell in December 2023, said his fianceĂ© has met Cardwellâs family, including the two daughters Cardwell was survived by, Kaitlyn and Kylee.
âShe has met Annaâs family and they like her a lot. We go over for holidays and times in between to see Kaitlyn,â Toney explained. âKaitlyn loves her, and that is something that sits great with me.â
He added, âShe has also met Kylee, who also loves Jessie.â
Toney said his new partner ârespects my past and the things I have dealt with 100 percent.â He explained, âShe knows I have good days and bad days when it comes to missing Anna and she is extremely supportive.â
âOur future together is bright from what we have talked about and how things are going now,â he said. âI know a lot of people may say Iâm moving on fast but at the end of the day, Anna wouldnât want me sitting around in misery.â
Toney said both his and his fianceĂ©âs family have been incredibly supportive of their relationship. The newly engaged couple have yet to set a wedding date.
In early 2023, Cardwell was diagnosed with stage 4 adrenal carcinoma cancer. Doctors found cancer in Cardwellâs kidney, liver and lung. Cardwell immediately started chemotherapy but the treatment did not work.
Prior to her death, Cardwell and Toney wed in a secret ceremony in March 2023 in Georgia. The couple started dating in 2017 and he helped her raise her two children, who she had from previous relationships.
In 2021, Cardwell said she was trying to have a third child with Toney. She explained, âItâs been a long bumpy road for us trying to have baby number three.â
In June, Toney spoke to People about his decision to move out of the home he once shared with Cardwell. He explained being inside brought âconstant memoriesâ of Cardwell being gone.
âWhen we moved into that place, thatâs when she began the cancer journey,â Toney said. âAnd being at that house, it was just a constant reminder of the cancer.â
Following her death, Mama June, 46, was awarded custody of 12-year-old Kaitlyn, despite Kyleeâs dad, Michael Cardwell, asking a judge to award him custody of Kaitlyn to keep the two kids together. Kylee, 9, lives with Michael.
Following her death, Cardwellâs sister, Alana âHoney Boo Booâ Thompson, wrote on Instagram, âLord please wrap your arms around her 2 babies & our family as the next couple of days will make this all a reality.â
âIâm so glad that you waited til i was home to take your last breath!â Thompson, 20, added. âI wouldâve loved for you to get to see me graduate college but i know you will forever cheer me on in heaven! We will all make sure your legacy lives on forever.â
