Civil rights leaders to lead funeral for Mississippi teen found dead after July 4 boat trip
The funeral of 18-year-old Nolan Xavier Wells, whose body was recovered off Horn Island, will be held in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, with Rev. Al Sharpton officiating and civil-rights attorney Ben Crump speaking.
Ocean Springs, Mississippi — A funeral for 18-year-old Nolan Xavier Wells, whose body was found two days after a July 4 boat trip to Horn Island, is scheduled for Monday. The service will be led by Rev. Al Sharpton, and civil-rights attorney Ben Crump is expected to deliver a call for justice.
Wells’ mother, Christine Wonsley, said the family intends to celebrate his life rather than focus solely on mourning. "He would not want us to be sitting around crying and eating, and so what we’re gonna do is kind of have a party to celebrate him," she told reporters last week.
Wells, a Black teenager who had traveled with a group of white high-school friends, did not return to the mainland after the outing. His body was recovered off the island’s coast on July 6. Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter said the investigation is ongoing and that friends are cooperating. Initial statements suggested Wells chose to stay on the island, but Crump’s office has cited a witness who said Wells planned to leave with his friends and noted that text messages on a phone recovered from the friends appeared to have been deleted.
Crump said he will work with the local prosecutor to examine the device, and the prosecutor has agreed to present findings to a grand jury. "Our lived experiences tell us that we must question everything, everybody’s role, law enforcement’s role," Crump said.
Wells, who would have turned 19 next month, played wide receiver at Southwest Mississippi Community College and hoped to play at a Division I program. His coach, Les George, described him as sociable and friendly.
The case has drawn national attention and support from several high-profile Black figures. Actor Tyler Perry is contributing to funeral costs, former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick is financing an independent autopsy, and filmmaker Spike Lee attended a recent press conference. The Congressional Black Caucus issued a joint statement urging an independent and transparent investigation, noting that many questions remain unanswered.