Post by The 19th

It’s been 16 days since Nolan Wells went missing in Jackson County, Mississippi, after taking a boat trip with some friends. His body was discovered on the shoreline of Horn Island on July 6, but authorities have not yet shared details on the cause of Wells’ death. In the time since, misinformation and speculation about 18-year-old Wells’ character and the circumstances leading up to his death have run rampant online. At his funeral Monday, Wells' mom, Christine Wells-Wonsley, spoke about the son she knew. Wells was quiet, gentle and calming, she told the crowd gathered at Center Pointe Church in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. “He had a way of making people feel seen, welcome and valued,” she said. “He could lift your confidence with just a few words and make you feel like you belong.” Wells-Wonsley, alongside her husband, have been vocal about inconsistencies and lingering questions in their son’s case. The family commissioned an independent autopsy, separate from that standard state autopsy, and have called for a full investigation. On Instagram on Sunday, Wells-Wonsley shared that she had received a letter with a photo of her crying at a news conference, with prominent civil rights advocate Rev. Al Sharpton standing to her right and attorney Ben Crump on her left. The sender drew arrows from Sharpton and Crump’s eyes pointing to dollar signs, implying that the advocates were using the tragedy of Wells’ death for financial gain. “This is America where a grieving mother and father have to deal with this type of behavior because we asked a simple question of what happened to our son and accepted all the help we could get to find answers,” Wonsley wrote. At the funeral, which the family opened to the public, she urged observers: “In a world that can often feel dark, be like Nolan.” “Be the light that brightens the lives of those around you,” she continued. “Be the warmth for those who may be feeling the coldness of the world. Love deeply, protect fiercely and welcome others with kindness. And remain faithful, knowing that God is always with you.” ✍️: Candice Norwood, justice reporter 📸: AP Photo/Gerald Herbert