Nolan Wells’ mother stood before cameras on July 15 and laid out the details for her son’s final celebration, turning what could’ve been a day of pure grief into something that honored who he actually was.
The 18-year-old wide receiver at Southwest Mississippi Community College went missing on July 4 during a boat trip to Horn Island with friends, and his body was discovered two days later by a U.S. Park Service Ranger. Now, his mother was making sure everyone understood this wouldn’t be a traditional funeral. The service takes place July 20 at Center Pointe Church in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, with visitation from 9 to 11 a.m. and the funeral service running from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Rev. Al Sharpton will deliver the eulogy, and filmmaker Tyler Perry is covering all expenses. After the service, the family’s hosting a repass celebration at Jackson County Fairgrounds. The circumstances surrounding Nolan’s death remain under investigation, and the family’s not accepting easy answers. Attorney Ben Crump was retained to conduct an independent review, and NFL activist Colin Kaepernick stepped up to help fund a separate autopsy to ensure nothing gets overlooked. When the family met with the district attorney on July 15, they left without new information but agreed to a mutual inspection of Nolan’s cell phone with experts from both sides. The family’s pushing for transparency while honouring their son’s memory, and the community’s rallying behind them in ways big and small.
According to CNN, investigators are still working to piece together Nolan’s final hours on the island, with questions remaining about why he didn’t return with his friends and what happened in those missing moments.