More than a week after Nolan Wells’ death, his mother is finally answering the question many supporters have been asking about how he will be laid to rest.
Christine Wonsley has revealed emotional new details about her son’s funeral, explaining how her family wants him to be remembered as they prepare to celebrate his life.
Speaking at a news conference covered by 16 WAPT News Jackson, Christine stood alongside her husband, Elmore Wonsley Jr., and civil rights attorney Ben Crump as she shared her family’s plans for Nolan’s homegoing celebration and thanked the community for its support during an incredibly difficult time.
She said the funeral will bring together the people who knew Nolan best, including family members, close friends, teammates, former teammates, and even teams he played against.
Christine added that the family had already contacted Coach Les George because they wanted to make sure Nolan’s teammates could be there.
The Funeral Choice Christine Wonsley Says Nolan Would Have Wanted
As she discussed the family’s plans, Christine explained that she wants the day to reflect her son’s personality rather than be defined only by grief.
“We want to celebrate Nolan, he would not want us to be sitting around crying and eating,” she said. She also emphasized that the service is intended primarily for Nolan’s closest circle.
While members of the media will be allowed to attend, she said the family’s priority is ensuring relatives and close friends have the opportunity to be present.
The One Request Christine Made Before the Service
Before concluding her remarks, Christine had one final message for anyone planning demonstrations in Nolan’s memory, including on the day of the funeral.
“Keep it peaceful. Nolan would never want any type of violence,” she said in the news conference, adding that violence did not reflect the kind of person her son was.
Christine also thanked local officials, teachers, classmates, teammates, and everyone who has reached out to support the family.
She expressed gratitude to those who donated to the family’s GoFundMe campaign but stressed that people who cannot contribute financially should not feel pressured, asking instead for continued prayers.
She ended with a message to Nolan’s friends, encouraging them to stay strong and take care of their mental health.
In a later Facebook update, Christine shared that the funeral service will be held at Center Point Church in Ocean Springs on Monday, July 20. Visitation is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., with the funeral immediately following.
Afterward, the family plans to gather for a repast at the Jackson County Fairgrounds to celebrate Nolan’s life.
She also announced that the post-funeral gathering will be private, with passes issued only to invited attendees, and said security will be present at both venues.
In a separate update, Christine shared the shade of blue supporters are welcome to wear if they wish to honor Nolan during the service.
While Wonsley is now focused on honoring Nolan’s life and preparing for his funeral, the family has also continued seeking answers about the circumstances surrounding his death.
Christine and Elmore sat down with “Good Morning America” anchor Michael Strahan on Friday, July 10, 2026, to speak publicly for the first time about their son’s death.
Joined by their civil rights attorney, the couple demanded a thorough, independent investigation into what happened to Nolan on a remote stretch of Mississippi coastline.
A Fourth Of July Trip That Ended In Tragedy
Nolan vanished after joining friends for a boat outing to Horn Island on July 4, 2026, a getaway that was supposed to be a simple holiday celebration. His disappearance triggered a search that stretched on for days along the barrier island.
His body was pulled from the water on Monday, July 6. Investigators confirmed his identity the following day, Tuesday, July 7, using dental records.
What Christine Wonsley Found Missing From His Phone
During the search, the family had tracked Nolan’s phone, discovering he had left it on the original boat. They eventually arranged to retrieve it from friends who had been with him on the trip.
It’s still unclear exactly which friend had been holding onto the device or who else may have had access to it beforehand.
When Christine finally got her hands on it, she and her sister went through everything, starting with Snapchat. Nolan kept two separate accounts on the app, and both came back completely empty.
“When we finally got his phone, me and my sister went through the phone. We went in his Snapchat. He had two accounts. Absolutely nothing,” Christine said.
She noted it hadn’t even been 24 hours, the window in which Snapchat photos and videos typically remain visible, adding that even her sister immediately flagged how strange that was.
Texts and other messages also appeared to have been wiped from the device, according to the family. But another phone has reportedly captured something that could be used in the investigation.
The Argument Ben Crump Says Was Caught On Camera
Their attorney told ABC News Live on Wednesday, July 8, that Nolan was a strong swimmer and that his parents are not accepting that he drowned by accident.
And on Friday, he pointed to a separate piece of evidence that the family wants examined: a cell phone video circulating online that appears to capture a heated moment involving Nolan just before he went missing.
“You can hear an argument going where Nolan is saying, ‘Give me my freaking phone! What are you freaking doing?’ And so then his phone ends up missing,” Attorney Crump said. Additionally, he argued that Nolan not having his phone doesn’t seem possible, given how attached young people are to them.
“No young person leaves their cell phone,” he said. “It’s not adding up, and that is the problem when you think about the history of Mississippi. Yeah, so there are so many questions that need to be answered.”
Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter told “GMA” on Thursday night, July 9, that Nolan’s phone still hadn’t been turned over to investigators. He acknowledged it could end up being a critical piece of the puzzle that authorities haven’t had access to yet.
The family’s lawyer confirmed during the family’s press conference in Harlem held on Friday that the family’s own investigators plan to examine the device first before handing it over to law enforcement. He said that process would happen quickly.
Ledbetter also said the viral argument footage will be reviewed as part of the broader investigation. Meanwhile, Attorney Crump revealed the family has arranged for an independent autopsy to be conducted in Washington, D.C.
But something else was disclosed during that press conference that has broken the hearts of anyone watching this case closely.
The Goodbye His Mother Didn’t Know Would Be Her Last
Christine told reporters that Friday that her final evening with her son felt completely ordinary. Nolan had cooked her a salmon dinner before heading out to spend the night at a friend’s house ahead of the trip.
“After that he was just like, ‘Hey mom, I’m about to go, I love you.’ It was a hug, kiss and he left,” she said, according to The Post.
There was no warning, no hint that anything was wrong. It was the kind of goodbye a parent doesn’t think twice about until it becomes the last one. But that’s why the family is fighting so hard.
They want real answers, as the sequence of events of that Fourth of July doesn’t make sense, especially to Nolan’s dad.
Why Nolan’s Father Doesn’t Believe He Stayed Behind
Christine and the family’s lawyer weren’t the only ones to speak up. Elmore gave his own opinion to “CBS Mornings,” addressing one of the central questions in the case, whether his son could have chosen to remain on the island after his friends left by boat.
His answer was immediate.
“No, he wouldn’t. Nolan always stays with the group,” Elmore told the outlet. “If you be with me, you come back with me. So that I don’t understand, and with me being a parent, if I was in that situation, I would have told them, ‘You’re going to get back on this boat with me because I don’t want to answer to your parents if something happens to you.'”
When pressed on whether he believed Nolan had actually been left behind on Horn Island, Elmore didn’t hesitate. “Yes. I don’t believe he decided to stay on the island by himself. It just doesn’t, that’s not his character,” he said.
The Wonsleys were left with a final hug, a home-cooked salmon dinner, and a phone that raised more questions than it answered as they waited for investigators to explain what happened that Fourth of July weekend.