From Staff Reports
During an impactful Celebration of Life service for Nolan Xavier Wells, eulogist Rev. Al Sharpton and Atty. Benjamin Crump called for anyone with information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone responsible for the death of 18-year-old Wells.
As he prepared to introduce Crump, whom he referred to as the “Attorney General of Black America,” Rev. Sharpton announced that the National Action Network, of which he is the founder, was offering a $50,000 reward, hopefully as an incentive for sharing information so the family could find out what happened to their popular student athlete.
Filmmaker, actor, producer, writer and philanthropist Tyler Perry paid for the service, and he also donated an additional $50,000 to the reward.
“As a son of the South and a person who to this day questions the death of my nephew in a Louisiana prison, and as an advocate who has been fighting for years to get answers for Marcia Williams about what happened other son Terrance, in Florida, I know what it’s like to not have the answers that loved ones so desperately need,” said Perry. “The agony is debilitating. It is my hope that Nolan’s parents and all who knew and loved him get to the truth of what happened in Mississippi.”
Perry’s sentiments were echoed by everyone from the Mississippi NAACP to athlete/activist Colin Kaepernick, who Wells’ family members say paid for the independent autopsy that involved Wells’ body being transported to Washington, D.C.
While authorities have not released his cause of death, many are also waiting to hear the independent results.
Several other high-profile donors contributed to a GoFundMe Account set up shortly after Wells’ death.
According to his mother, Christine Wells Wonsley, her son was enjoying his last weekend home over the July 4th Holiday, before returning to Southwest Mississippi Community College, where the student athlete was on the football team.
She said she never thought he would not return home from his boating trip with several friends.
Now a cloud of suspicion has led to concerns from the family, attorneys and Rev. Sharpton, who all referenced contradicting stories, the missing and then retrieved cell phone with erased messages, and photos that appear to debunk some alibis.
It was especially alarming that his body was not found until July 6, off Horn Island, in the Mississippi Gulf Coast and had to be identified by dental records, although several reports acknowledged that there was no water in his lungs and decomposition usually takes more than two days.
In emotional expressions of love, Wells Wonsley, and her husband, Elmore, shared endearing stories about their son, including his desire to one day have three daughters.
The service was held at Center Pointe Church in Ocean Springs, Miss., on Monday, July 20 and streamed live on the Black Star Network.
Atty. Crump led the filled-to-capacity, 1000 occupancy building that included filmmaker Spike Lee, Wells’ teammates, and former NFL-star, Terrell Owens, as they chanted, “Justice for Nolan Wells!”
Read more at www.texasmetronews.com
