Nolan Wells’ Mom Reveals at Funeral He Always Wanted to Be a Dad of 3, Had Names Picked

The mother of Nolan Wells tearfully eulogized her 18-year-old son during his funeral service, which was held two weeks after his body was discovered following his disappearance during a 4th of July outing to Mississippi’s Horn Island.

A memorial service for Wells was livestreamed on Monday, July 20, at noon ET on theGrio.com and theGrio’s YouTube channel, and Christine Wonsley was seen tearfully looking back on the life of her son.

“We thank you, Lord, for the beautiful 18 years that you blessed us with, with him,” she began. “Nolan had such a gentle, calming spirit about him. He had a way of making people feel seen, welcome and valued. He could lift your confidence with just a few words and make you feel like you belong.”

Calling her son “both protective and nurturing,” Christine revealed that Wells “often told us that one day he wanted to have three daughters that he would name Sophia, Charlotte and Olivia.”

“He had a deep love for the Lord and an unwavering faith that was evident in the way he lived his life,” she continued. “As much as our hearts are broken, we find peace in knowing that our son is resting in the arms of the Lord.”

Through tears, Christine said that their family “will miss everything about” Wells, from “his quiet nature to the corny jokes, his gentle smile, the way he made everyone around him feel comfortable, loved and at ease.”

“In a world that can often feel dark, be like Nolan,” Christine told those in attendance. “Be the light that brightens the lives of those around you.”

Before Christine concluded her speech, she asked everyone listening to “keep Nolan’s memory alive,” adding: “Hold him close in your hearts, share his stories and never stop saying his name.”

Actor and media mogul Tyler Perry paid for the services, according to CBS News. Rev. Al Sharpton served as the officiant for the service.

Wells’ parents, Christine and Elmore Wonsley, previously announced on Instagram that services were at Center Pointe Church in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Christine said that the repass was “private.”

As Globe previously reported, after Wells disappeared, his body was found in the water near the island two days later following an extensive search.

While investigators have said drowning is suspected, they haven’t released an official cause of death, and the case remains under investigation.

The Mississippi college football player traveled to Horn Island with a group of friends to celebrate Independence Day. Wells was last seen near the island around 3 p.m. One of his friends, Tracestin Shepherd, told Good Morning America that the teen wanted to stay behind at a party because he met a girl, and it seemed like “he really did like her.”

Wells’ family has pushed back on the claim that the teen voluntarily stayed behind on the island, and they’ve hired civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump to conduct a separate investigation into his death.

The three friends who accompanied Wells have retained attorneys.