The death of country music star Wayne Mills last week hit close to home for Selma residents Mark Woodson and Robin Woodson.

The Woodsons said they were saddened to hear their friend Mills, who performed at the their wedding, was shot and killed by owner of Nashville’s Pit Chris Ferrell around 5 a.m. Saturday in what Ferrell said was self-defense. Mills, who was the leader of the Wayne Mills Band, died later that morning at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

“I was devastated,” Mark, who heard the news Saturday afternoon from a friend of his. “It was totally unexpected.”

Mark, who was a friend of Mills for 21 years, said his relationship with Mills began with their initial meeting at Harry’s Bar in Tuscaloosa. At the time, both he and Mills attended the University of Alabama.

Woodson said their mutual love for country music is what brought them together.

“When he first started out, he would ask what I wanted him to play, and I would say, ‘Play something you know,’” Mark said. “We ended up being there every Tuesday night.”

When Mark heard the news of how Mills was killed, he literally couldn’t believe it.

“He was a nice guy, and I never saw him get in a fight,” he said. “I always saw him break up a fight, which makes this whole thing sound ridiculous.”

Robin, who was introduced to Mills by her husband, said she cherished Wayne’s ability to turn anything into a song the most.

“He really was an amazing musician, writer and guy in general,” she said. “It is a great loss.”