Update: Nolan Wells’ mother says public is welcome at son’s funeral

Christine Wonsley, the mother of Nolan Wells, announced Sunday on Facebook that the funeral for her son would be public, after originally announcing that it would be for friends, family and classmates.

The Ocean Springs teen is being laid to rest Monday in Ocean Springs, where he was a standout on the Greyhounds’ football team before attending Southwest Mississippi Community College in Summit.

Monday’s events will include a visitation at Center Pointe Church from 9 to 11 a.m. The funeral will be at the church at 11 a.m. After the funeral, there will be a repast at the Jackson County Fairgrounds in Pascagoula. The repast is invite-only and there will be security present at all events, according to the family.

The Rev. Al Sharpton is officiating the funeral and there will be a live online stream, according to Wonsley.

Wonsley previously asked on social media for anyone who was interested only in the spectacle of the funeral to stay away:

“If you plan to attend Nolan’s funeral in hopes that you are going to meet someone famous STAY HOME, we do not want that type of energy. We do not need fake love and support! His celebration of life is for family, friends, and teammates.”

Wonsley has asked for calm in the community since her son’s death. “If you are having protests, even the day of his services, I am asking you guys to just keep it peaceful. Nolan would never want any type of violence or anything like that,” Wonsley said.

Previous discussions centered on the Mississippi Coast Coliseum and Convention Center hosting. Despite officials with the Mississippi Coast Convention Center agreeing to host the services, the Ocean Springs church was chosen.

The coliseum and convention center commission’s board unanimously supported holding the event, though the cost was more than $80,000.

This story was originally published July 19, 2026 at 8:19 AM.