Tammy Slaton keeps a piece of her late husband Caleb Willingham with her all the time.
The 1000 lbs. Sisters star recently posted a series of videos on TikTok revealing all the ways she’s paying tribute to Willingham, who died this summer at the age of 40. In one clip, the 37-year-old tells her followers that she wears her late husband’s wedding ring next to her own.
In addition, Slaton had two pieces of jewelry made from Willingham’s ashes: a ring and a necklace in the shape of a musical note.
“My necklace is actually Caleb’s ashes,” she said. “Me and my husband actually really enjoy music of all kinds so I thought a musical note would be appropriate.”
“This ring is his fingerprint made out of ashes, and inside it says Caleb,” she added. “And it has texture, it’s really cool. I can feel his fingerprint.”
‘1000 lbs. Sisters star Tammy Slaton confirms husband Caleb Willingham dead at 40: ‘I’m devastated’ (Exclusive)
In another clip, Slaton admitted that since making the necklace and ring, she has separation anxiety whenever she’s not wearing them, asking her followers if they can connect.
“For those of you who have a necklace or ring made of ashes and wear them, do you feel separation anxiety, like, panic and go a little crazy because they’re gone? Because I’ve been doing it for a long time,” she said.
“Now, I can tolerate it a little. I didn’t try to do it for more than an hour. I’m afraid,” she explained. “But I was just wondering if it was just a weird thing I was doing. But it makes me happy to hold it so… I don’t know.”
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Slaton also posted a heartfelt tribute to Willingham on TikTok last week, reflecting on her time with him. She included a photo of his urn, which had a picture of a sunset. It was placed on the table in her house next to their wedding photo.
“Sunset was our thing,” she wrote. “We’d sit outside all afternoon until the sun went down on this picture on Caleb’s urn.”
The reality star paired the post with an acoustic version of SLANDER and Dylan Matthew’s “Love Is Gone.” She also shared a photo of a butterfly that was released at his memorial service.
“Even though I’m not in love with him, I will always love him and miss him every day,” Slaton wrote. “It will be better.”
‘1000 lbs. Sisters star Tammy Slaton pictured with family at husband Caleb Willingham’s funeral (Exclusive)
Tammy Slaton and her late husband Caleb Willingham on their wedding day.
Michael Moretti
In late July, Slaton was surrounded by her loved ones as she attended a memorial service for Willingham, Ohio. The couple were reportedly estranged at the time of his death. However, as Slaton exclusively told PEOPLE at the time, “He was my best friend and I loved him very much.”
“When I met Caleb, he became my guardian angel and is really watching over me now. Our families appreciate everyone’s condolences and we ask that you respect our privacy at this time.”
Slaton and Willingham met at Windsor Lane Rehabilitation Center in Gibsonburg, Ohio in 2022. The reality star was there to lose weight before bariatric surgery, while Willingham was being treated for obesity.
He proposed to her in October, and in November, PEOPLE exclusively revealed that the couple had tied the knot. Their wedding—and Slaton’s family’s reaction to their brief engagement—was documented on 1000 lbs. Sisters.
“When you love someone, you don’t let anything stand in your way,” Willingham said at the time.
After news of Willingham’s death broke, 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.”
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