Jay Weaver, the bassist of the contemporary Christian band Big Daddy Weave, has died from complications due to COVID-19. He was 42.
Weaver's death was confirmed by his older brother and Big Daddy Weave frontman Mike Weaver on Instagram 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 hours ago," Mike said in a video.
"You guys have seen him walk the uphill battle and you guys have helped carry him through so much," he continued. "And man, I'm telling you, the Lord used him in such a mighty way out on the road for so many years."
Weaver had suffered from diabetes for many years. The disease led to the amputation of both of his feet in 2016. In August of last year, the bassist took a hiatus from the band after he was hospitalized from complications of dialysis.
As reported by the Daily Mail, Weaver spent his final six days in the hospital battling COVID-19. Mike thanked everyone for their support and told them their "prayers for healing can turn into prayers of thanksgiving now that Jay is in God's presence."
"And anybody's who's come in contact with him, man, just knows 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. I know that he's seeing things now that I long to see. My heart's broke," he said.
Several Christian artists expressed their condolences to Mike on social media.
"Mike. I am so sorry." wrote MercyMe frontman Bart Millard. "Praying for you and your family. Man, I loved that dude."
"Love you guys! Prayers for you and all your families," Phil Wickham commented.
CCM artist Danny Gokey also offered his condolences, writing, "My heart breaks for you and his family. Even though we know they're in heaven, it's still difficult at times to live here without them. Prayers to you and your whole family. Love you all. Mourning with his fam and rejoicing that he's in the arms of Jesus!"
The Gospel Music Association also expressed their grievances by writing, "Prayers from your GMA fam. We love you all so much."
According to a tribute posted by K-Love, the Weaver brother's formed Big Daddy Weave in 1998 and released their first album, Neighborhoods, in 2001 independently. In 2002, the band released its second album, One and Only, under the record label Fervent Records. The band has produced many hits, including "Without You," "What Life Would Be Like," "Overwhelmed," "Audience of One," "In Christ," and their latest single, "Alive."
Weaver is survived by his wife and their three children.
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Terry Wyatt/Stringer
Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for CrosswalkHeadlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.
