NEED TO KNOW
-
Two weeks after Tanner Martin’s death at age 30, his wife Shay Wright recorded a video “letter” addressed to him directly, updating him on recent events
-
In the video, which she uploaded on July 10, Shay recalled highlights from his funeral service and shared how their newborn daughter AmyLou was growing up
-
Martin announced his own death with a pre-recorded video shared to his and Shay’s social media page, where they’d been documenting their lives together since his colon cancer diagnosis in 2020
Tanner Martin’s wife, Shay Wright, is continuing their conversations even after his death, and she’s sharing her side of them with their online community.
On Thursday, July 10, Shay posted a TikTok of herself reading a spoken “letter” to her late husband, who died at age 30 in June, about five years after he was diagnosed with colon cancer. The couple had a viral presence documenting their lives together on social media, and Shay has continued to keep up with their fans and followers.
She addressed Tanner directly in her message, which she recorded in her car while “driving to a get-together with some widows,” Shay began in the video. “I just had the thought, so I pulled over to write this letter to you.”
Shay Martin/Instagram
Shay Wright and Tanner Martin.
The grieving influencer recapped Tanner’s recent funeral service, which was held on July 3. “It was exactly the way that you planned it,” Shay said, adding that she even found a harpist to play “Duel of the Fates” from the Star Wars soundtrack. “I’m sure you heard. It was beautiful.”
She also shared some news about their infant daughter, AmyLou. Tanner and Shay revealed that they welcomed their first baby in mid-May, about 40 days before Tanner announced his own death in a pre-recorded social media video shared on June 25.
In her video letter to Tanner, Shay said their daughter now weighs 9 lbs., 9 oz. “She’s getting chubby, like you wanted. She likes milk, just as you predicted,” said the mom.
She continued to report that Tanner’s family — his mother, father and brother — regularly visit her and AmyLou. Shay said they talk about Tanner and fond memories and “silly things” he used to say.
Before concluding the video, Shay told him she would continue to share more “letters” with updates for him. “I miss you a lot,” she said and blew kisses to conclude the post.
Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post via Getty
Shay Wright and Tanner Martin.
Though Tanner is no longer alive and present with his family, he’s managed to support them even after death by requesting help from his followers. In another pre-recorded video posted after his death, the late dad directed viewers, social media fans and followers to a GoFundM page set up to help Shay and AmyLou financially.
“It’ll help replace my income. It’ll help pay for babysitting. It’ll help for school, for her wedding. All these things that normally Shay and I would do together,” Martin said in the posthumous video. “If I’m gone, it’s gonna be really hard for Shay to do on her own.”
Read the original article on People
