The celebration of life will take place at Center Pointe Church in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, for the teen whose death has caused many to step up in his name.
The life of Nolan Wells will be celebrated at a memorial service on July 20. For those unable to attend the ceremony in Mississippi in person, the service will be livestreamed on theGrio.com and theGrio’s YouTube channel.
Earlier this week, Wells‘ family announced funeral service details for the 18-year-old, whose death following a Fourth of July trip to Horn Island has drawn national attention and calls for a transparent investigation. Nolan’s mother, Christine Wonsley, shared the announcement on her Instagram page, detailing how her son will be honored.
According to the flyer, services will be held on Monday at Center Pointe Church in Ocean Springs. The announcement lists a visitation from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., followed immediately by the funeral service at 11 a.m. Arrangements have been entrusted to Lockett Williams Mortuary Inc., based in Gulfport.
As previously reported by theGrio, Rev. Al Sharpton will serve as the officiant for the service. Since the teen’s disappearance and death, hundreds have flocked to a GoFundMe account established in his name. Media mogul Byron Allen was among the top donors to the fundraiser, donating $100,000 to assist Wells’ family with financial assistance during their time of grief. Others who have donated or offered support for the Wells family include Lil Rel Howey, Ole Miss quarterback Deuce Knight and more. Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick also paid for an independent autopsy for Wells to determine the cause of his death.
The investigation into his death has prompted the FBI to join the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office as both organizations continue to work to find answers to what happened to the teen on July 4. A grand jury will also look into his case to determine if criminal charges need to be filed.
