“1000-Lb. Sisters”’ Tammy Slaton Cries at Memorial for Late Husband Caleb: 'Different Kind of Hurt' (Exclusive)
“I’m having my ups and downs…this is a different kind of hurt,” Tammy says in PEOPLE’s exclusive clip of ‘1000-Lb. Sisters’
Tammy Slaton is trying to come to terms with the “hurt” she feels following the death of her husband Caleb Willingham.
In PEOPLE’s exclusive clip from Tuesday’s season finale of 1000-Lb. Sisters, the 37-year-old was surrounded by her loved ones as she held an emotional memorial service for her late husband, who died last year.
“Tammy, how are you doing today baby?” her brother Chris asks as they drive to the memorial.
“I’m having my ups and downs, I guess,” she replies while crying. “It hurt when Grandma died, but this is a different kind of hurt….it sure is a pretty day though.”
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Tammy Slaton“Tammy’s numb right now,” Amy says of her sister. “She doesn’t know how to feel. She doesn’t know how to process grief like a normal human being. We were told to push our feelings down, not to embrace them. So, she’s just trying to manage the way she can.”
After arriving at the memorial, the family meets up with their friend Billy, a home care nurse who also officiated Tammy’s wedding. Tammy breaks down in tears as Billy hugs her and says, “Everything will be okay.”
“Nine months ago, Tammy asked me to officiate her wedding,” Billy adds. “It’s really hard to put into words how to go from one extreme of officiating a wedding and just watching Tammy in the happiest points of her life just to turn around and in less than a year I have to witness her in the most tragic time of her life.”
TLC
Willingham died June 2023 at the age of 40. At the time, Tammy told PEOPLE exclusively, "He was my best friend and I loved him dearly.”
"When I met Caleb he became my guardian angel and now he really is watching over me,” she said. “Our families appreciate everyone’s sympathy and ask that you respect our privacy at this time.”
The cause of Willingham’s death has not been released.
Shortly after speaking with PEOPLE, Tammy penned a sweet post about her late husband on Instagram.
"Rip sweet angel you will forever be missed and loved so much thank you Caleb for showing me real love and happiness," she captioned a series of photos of the couple.
Michael Moretti
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Slaton and Willingham met at Windsor Lane Rehabilitation Center in Gibsonburg, Ohio, in 2022. Slaton was there to lose weight before bariatric surgery, while Willingham was being treated for obesity.
He proposed in October, and in November, PEOPLE exclusively revealed that the couple had married. Their wedding — and Slaton’s family’s reaction to their short engagement — was documented on 1000-Lb. Sisters.
“When you love somebody, you don’t let anything get in the way,” Willingham said at the time.
After news broke of Willingham’s death, TLC released a statement, saying, "We are deeply saddened to learn of Caleb Willingham’s passing. Our condolences go out to Tammy, his family and friends at this difficult time.”
The season finale of 1000-Lb. Sisters airs Tuesday, Feb. 6 at 9PM ET/PT.
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