Jay Weaver, who played bass guitar in the Christian band Big Daddy Weave, died Sunday from complications related to COVID-19.
Jay’s brother, Mike, shared the news with fans in a video posted online Sunday evening.
“I’m so sorry to bring this news, but I’m also excited to celebrate where he is right now. My brother, Jay, went to be with Jesus just a couple of hours ago,” Mike Weaver described. He added that Jay died “due to complications with COVID-19, on top of everything else that he already had going on.”
The band first revealed Saturday that Jay Weaver had been in the hospital for five days “fighting a tough battle against Covid.”
Back in August, Weaver was hospitalized and wound up in the intensive care unit after complications related to dialysis, according to the Christian Broadcasting Network. The band also revealed at the time that “Jay recently made the difficult decision to come off the road with Big Daddy Weave for a time to focus on his health.” In 2016, he had both of his feet amputated after an infection.
“My heart’s broke,” Mike Weaver said Sunday evening. “We just wanted to let you know that the prayers for healing can turn into prayers of thanksgiving now.”
Jay and Mike Weaver helped launch Big Daddy Weave in 1998 in Mobile, Alabama. Known for songs such as “Redeemed” and “Jesus I Believe,” the band has released eight studio albums that landed within the top 20 on the U.S. Christian music charts, including three that cracked the top 10.
Mike Weaver, who is the band’s lead singer, praised fans for supporting his brother during an “uphill battle.”
“The Lord used him in such a mighty way out on the road for so many years,” Mike Weaver said. “Anybody who’s in contact with him just how real his faith in Jesus was. I believe that even though COVID may have taken his last breath, Jesus was right there to catch him.”
Others on the Christian music scene shared their condolences following Weaver’s death.
“Love you guys! Prayers for you all and your families,” fellow artist Phil Wickham commented on Mike Weaver’s Instagram post.
Gospel singer Danny Gokey, meanwhile, wrote that his “heart breaks” for the family.
“Even though we know they’re in heaven it’s still difficult at times to live here without them,” Gokey commented. “Prayers to you and your whole family. Love you all. Mourning with his fam and rejoicing that he’s in the arms of Jesus!”
