OCEAN SPRINGS, Miss. (WLOX) — Funeral services for Nolan Wells, the 18-year-old who died over Fourth of July weekend following a trip to Horn Island, will be held Monday at Center Pointe Church in Ocean Springs.
Visitation begins at 9 a.m., followed by the funeral service at 11 a.m.
The Rev. Al Sharpton is scheduled to deliver a eulogy. Actor and filmmaker Tyler Perry has paid for the funeral services.
Wells’ mother, Christine Wonsley, said in a social media post that the community is welcome to attend the funeral, but noted there will be a private section for family and friends.
The repast following the service will be held at the Jackson County Fairgrounds and is open only to invited guests.
“We want to celebrate Nolan. He would not want us sitting around crying,” Wonsley said about the repast during a press conference last week.
Wells was a 2025 graduate and multi-sport athlete at Ocean Springs High School. He then went on to play football at Southwest Mississippi Community College.
WLOX will broadcast the funeral and stream it online.
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