Mama June Questions Anna’s Custody Decision Before Her Death (Exclusive)

As Anna “Chickadee” Cardwell’s cancer continues to worsen, her mother, Mama June Shannon, urges her to announce which family member will receive custody of her daughter Kaitlyn.

In PEOPLE’s exclusive first look at Friday’s episode of Mama June: Family crisisMama June confronts her daughter about drawing up a document that will determine who will take over guardianship after Kaitlyn’s death.

“We know we have no say in Kylee’s situation. I have a feeling the minute you take your last breath, her father Michael will be standing in the front yard and pulling her out of that house,” she says, explaining the likely possibility of Anna’s daughters being separated. “Would that be bad for everyone involved? It certainly will be, but then we also have the situation with Kaitlyn.”

While speaking to the cameras, Anna acknowledges the reality of what will happen after her death, sighing, “I know what she’s talking about. She wants me to try to draw up a will and work out with the girls what I want to do with Kaitlyn.”

“I’m still here,” she continues, “I still have plenty of time, so just relax!”

Mama June questions Anna’s decision to delay announcing her custody plans and asks her daughter if her reluctance to write a will has deeper roots. When she wonders if she was “scared” to give up custody or if she was “rethinking it,” Anna interrupts and tells her who she plans to send her daughter to.

“I want Kaitlyn to go to Eldridge (her husband),” she explains, to Mama June’s shock.

“I’m surprised she wants Eldridge on the record,” the Shannon family matriarch tells the camera. “Kaitlyn will be better off with me because there will be stability. But Eldridge has been a part of Kaitlyn’s life since she was five. Honestly, she needs to get this crap on paper.”

Despite her mother’s doubts, Anna claims she knows Eldridge “can do it,” adding, “I just have to push him.”

“I want him to want it so bad he can’t stand it,” she continues, shaking her fists before Mama June asks quietly, “What happens if he doesn’t?”

In December 2023, Mama June announced in a post shared on Instagram that Anna had died of stage 4 adrenal cancer.

“It is with broken hearts that we announce that @annamarie35 is no longer with us,” she began the caption of her post next to a family photo. “She passed away peacefully last night at 11:12pm in my home.”

“She fought hard for 10 months and died surrounded by her family. We will update you today with more information as soon as we receive it,” Mama June continued.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Mama June: Family crisis airs Fridays at 9:00 p.m. ET on WEtv.