Big Daddy Weave bassist Jay Weaver succumbed to Covid-19 complications, the band announced via Instagram on Sunday.
In a heartfelt video, band member and brother Mike Weaver disclosed that Weaver had passed away due to medical issues that had arisen during his battle with the virus.
“Thank you so much for all your prayers for my brother,” he said. “You have walked with him through a significant fight, and I’m so sorry to bring this news but I’m also grateful to celebrate where he is right now. My brother Jay went to be with Jesus just a couple of hours ago due to complications due to COVID-19.”
The announcement followed the band’s appeal for prayers for Weaver’s well-being.
About Big Daddy Weave
Mike Weaver was a worship leader of a Florida Church when he chose to gather friends from the University of Mobile to establish a contemporary Christian band in 1998.
He founded the band with his brother Jay, Joe Shirk, Jeremy Redmon, and Brian Beihl.
The group has released eight studio albums and achieved top 20 hits on the US Christian music chart three times.
As of present, Big Daddy Weave’s most popular songs are ‘My Story’ and ‘I Know.’
They launched their latest album, When the Light Comes, in 2019. The album reached number 14 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart, and ‘I Know’ became the group’s sixth number 1 on the Christian Airplay Chart last year.
Jay Weaver’s Medical Challenges
Weaver had been battling poor health for several years.
His health issues began in 2016 when both his feet had to be amputated to prevent a fatal infection from spreading throughout his body.
In 2020, Weaver shared that he had been undergoing dialysis to address his declining kidney function.
In December, Big Daddy Weave requested followers on Twitter to pray for the bassist who had been hospitalized with coronavirus.
“Friends, would you please pray for Jay, his wife Emily, and their children? Jay has been in the hospital for five days fighting a tough battle against Covid. Would you pray with us for complete healing for Jay and for peace for his family? We pray In Jesus name that it be so.” the tweet read.
Mike expressed his gratitude to Big Daddy Weave’s fans for their ongoing support in the Instagram video and conveyed his wish to see his brother in a better place.
He added:
“The Lord used [Jay] in such a might way out on the road for so many years…I believe even though COVID may have taken his last breath, Jesus was right there to catch him.”
“My heart’s broke for my family,” Mike continued. “But we all just really wanted to thank you for walking with us through so much for so long.”
Weaver is survived by his wife, Emily, and their children, Makenzie, Madison, and Nathan Weaver.
Famous fans and friends of Big Daddy Weave mourned for Weaver on social media, and the band’s record label expressed their sorrow at the loss of the bassist.
