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.
