A jazz, blues, gospel and rock guitarist who played shows across the South was Mobile’s first death from COVID-19.

Wayman Henry, 66, died on March 27, and left a musical legacy that included teaching youth how to play guitar, said Sylvester Parsons, a fellow musician and manager of bands that Henry played in.

“He always brought joy wherever he went,” Parsons said.

Henry played lead and rhythm guitar in at least six different ensemble groups, including ReMix, the Music Company Band, JazzMo, 4 Barrel Funk, Musical Fantasy and the Gulf Coast Gospel Choir, Parsons said.

The six-piece and 10-piece bands often played weddings and social events at The Club in Birmingham and at venues around the South.

Henry and his fellow musicians played at the inaugural event for the Chris Tucker Foundation, a charity founded by the comedian and actor who starred in the “Rush Hour” movie series, Parsons said.

“He was a friend, a Christian, he believed in Jesus Christ, loved his family, loved his church, loved all of us he worked with,” Parsons said.

Henry also was a mentor to youth, teaching them to play music through his volunteer work with the non-profit group Youth on the Winning Side. “He was a mentor for younger guys learning to play guitar,” Parsons said.

“It’s really a great loss,” Parsons said. “There’s nothing I did in music in the last 15 years that he wasn’t part of.”

Henry was a member of New Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church and played guitar for the church’s worship team, said Minister of Music Derrrick Carstarphen. “His skills were off the chain,” Carstarphen said.

“He was excellent in every way when it came to the community,” Carstarphen said. “He was just a good guy. He was always helping people. He was always helping young people - he would give them a guitar, give them guitar lessons. He was always a happy guy.”