OCEAN SPRINGS, Miss. – On Monday, the family and friends of Mississippi teen Nolan Xavier Wells said their goodbyes and paid their respects at his funeral, held at Center Pointe Church in Ocean Springs, Mississippi.
Hundreds gathered at the church Monday morning, many wearing sky blue at the request of Wells’ mother. Wells played for his high school football team, which wore the color blue.
“Nolan had such a gentle, calming spirit about him. He had a way of making people feel seen, welcome, and valued. He could lift your confidence with just a few words and make you feel like you belonged,” said Well’s mother, Christine Wonsley, who wore a pin with her son’s picture on it. “I ask that each of you keep Nolan’s memory alive. Hold him close in your hearts, share his stories, and never stop saying his name. As long as we continue to remember him, his light will continue to shine through us all. Nolan, we love you. We’ll continue to fight for you.”
“Nolan meant a lot to a lot of people,” said Wells’ father, Elmore Wonsley. “Today shows us how much he meant to the community, to the country, and to the world.”
The service took place two weeks after 18-year-old Wells was found dead on the shore of Horn Island, a barrier island off the Mississippi coastline, on July 6. Wells had gone missing following a July 4 boat trip with friends, and his disappearance and death have drawn national attention. The Jackson County Sheriff’s department, along with the FBI, is conducting an investigation into Wells’ death. The autopsy reports from both the state and the family’s investigations have not been released.
From 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. CT, a visitation was held, followed by a funeral in which Rev. Al Sharpton officiated, and the family’s civil rights attorney Ben Crump gave a speech calling for justice. During the visitation, a slideshow of childhood photos of Wells with his friends and family played on the screen. His sports jerseys were framed and lined up next to the casket, which was adorned with blue and white flowers.
“We want to celebrate Nolan and at the same time say we want a full and thorough investigation,” Sharpton said. “For an 18-year-old young man to no longer be with us, we want answers. For the family, the closure will come when there is justice.” He added, “Long after the cameras are gone, they will bear the burden of an empty chair in the house.”
Sharpton spoke about the attention the case has brought to Wells’ family, including hate mail Wells’ mother received last week. Sharpton also thanked filmmaker Spike Lee and former NFL player Terrell Owens for attending the service. Owens posted about Wells’ death last week, tagging President Donald Trump and writing, “If you can make a call to overturn a call for a soccer match then you can make a call for the JUSTICE of Nolan Wells.”
During his eulogy, Sharpton offered a $50,000 reward for anyone who brings a tip leading to an arrest or conviction in the case of Wells’ death. Actor and filmmaker Tyler Perry texted Sharpton during the funeral to announce he’d match the reward, bringing it to $100,000. “He was not on that island by himself,” Sharpton said. “Somebody saw something or knows something.”
Gerald Herbert/AP
When Attorney Crump took the stage, he led the mourners in the audience in a chant of, “Justice for Nolan Wells.” Crump said, “We are on a ferocious search for the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.” Someone in the audience shouted back, “So help me God!”
At the service, the song “Trust in God” was performed by Elevation Worship, “Sung” was performed by Thaddeus Fairley, Sr., and “You Know My Name” was sung by gospel singer Tasha Cobbs Leonard. Pallbearers were Carlisha Briscoe, Jaden Briscoe, Jaylen Williams, Jayvon Williams, O’Nicholas Wonsley, and Xavier Bryant. The funeral was available to be live-streamed.
After the funeral, an invite-only celebration of life was held at Jackson County Fairgrounds in Pascagoula. Wells’ mother said she wanted to give family and friends a time to “grieve together and fellowship.”
Movie producer Perry helped pay for the funeral expenses for the family, and former football player and activist Colin Kaepernick helped fund the private autopsy. Wells’ family has also been collecting donations for their independent investigation via GoFundMe.
After the funeral, Crump and Shapton put on a press conference where Crump was asked when he would have the independent autopsy results back, and he replied, “Soon.”
The Wonsleys briefly addressed the media at the press conference, as well.
“We have not fully processed or grieved Nolan,” Christine said, her voice breaking when she was asked how she plans to honor her son’s legacy. She and her husband Elmore said they were heartened to see all of the support for their son, and that it was a testament to who he was as a person.
In the days leading up to the funeral, Wonsley posted on social media, asking the public for more details surrounding the events that took place on Horn Island the day her son went missing. “Nono just know your father and I will not stop advocating for you son,” Wonsley wrote. “We are so proud of you and we love you.”
This article originally appeared on Rolling Stone.
