By India McCarty
COUNTRY EVER AFTER star Criscilla Anderson died after a seven-year battle with Stage 3 colon cancer.
“My sweet community, If you’re reading this, I’ve finally slipped into the arms of Jesus — peacefully and surrounded by love,” an Instagram post from Anderson, posted posthumously by a friend, shared. “Please don’t stay in the darkness of this moment. I fought hard and I loved deeply. I am not gone… I’m Home.”
Anderson shared her love for her four children, as well as her friends and family, writing, “Please take care of one another — my love is still wrapped around you.”
“Be gentle with each other. Hold my children close. And remember: heaven isn’t as far away as it feels,” she continued. “I love you all. Always.”
Related: COUNTRY EVER AFTER: Episode 1.1: Meet the Andersons
Anderson’s estranged husband Coffey Anderson, who starred alongside her on COUNTRY EVER AFTER, also posted a tribute to her.
“Criscilla defined strength and fighter like no other person on the planet,” he wrote. “Heaven gained a star today….We miss you already. Our hearts are shattered. Our minds are jumbled. Our lives will never be the same.”
He continued, “So, dance your heart out on the beach in heaven. No more pain, no colostomy bag, no more neuropathy, no chemo, or radiation and you can eat as much dessert as you want with no calories.”
Anderson shared her diagnosis while on COUNTRY EVER AFTER, which showed the mom of four juggling family, health and her career as a dancer.
Anderson had been keeping fans updated on her condition via social media, along with the help of friend and photographer Lindsey.
In a joint post from the friends, Lindsey wrote, “Criscilla is the strongest human I’ve ever met. And as one of my closest friends, I say that with full conviction. Seven years ago she was given two years to live. Here we are, five years past that prognosis, and she’s still fighting with a grit and grace that humbles us all.”
“She is leaning into the unknown and trusting God’s promises with a courage that’s hard to describe. She wants to live. She wants to fight. And she’s holding tight to every prayer and every miracle still possible,” Lindsey continued. “And to her online community lifting her in prayer and searching for answers right alongside her — wow. Your love has become part of her armor.”
Please keep Anderson’s friends and family in your prayers as they navigate this time of grief.
Read Next: Why COUNTRY EVER AFTER Is the Show We Need Right Now
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