Six weeks after losing their son under suspicious circumstances, Nolan Wells’ parents are revealing just how deeply the teen’s death has affected them.
On what would have been the teen’s 19th birthday, his family chose to honor him with a prayer rally Wednesday night.
Hundreds packed the pews as Elmore and Christine Wonsley remembered their son, who disappeared on Horn Island on July 4. Authorities recovered his body two days later.
‘I Miss You’
Wells’ parents say it was hard waking up on Wednesday knowing they would have to celebrate the teen knowing he is not here physically.
“This morning I had to fight the urge to Facetime you and sing my off-tune Happy Birthday song,” Christine Wonsley said. “I miss the warmth of your hugs, I miss hearing you say ‘I love you mom’, I miss everything about you.”
Perhaps the biggest show of emotions came from Wells’ father, Elmore, who struggled to articulate just how much this loss has affected him.
“A parent shouldn’t have to bury their child,” said Wonsley. “Every morning when my feet hit the floor, I have to say a prayer to give me the strength to face this challenge of dealing with not knowing my son is here.”
Wonsley says he has to fight every day to not let his hurt turn into anger. He thanks his wife for keeping him balanced.
“We’re going to miss our son every day and it’s going to be hard. But I know that if we continue to lean on each other and keep pushing the issue and asking the main question. The only question. What happened to our son? Justice will prevail,” said Wonsley through tears.
Supporters then joined Wells’ family by singing a rendition of “Happy Birthday” as Elmore and Christine Wonsley blew out candles on a birthday cake.
Condemning Hate
Various speakers also spoke at the prayer rally, condemning those who have been sending hate messages to Wells’ parents.
“It is so unfair to lose your child and be attacked just for asking for answers,” said the family’s attorney Ben Crump. “How is it wrong for them to want answers for what happened to their son?”
Wells’ mother, Christine Wonsley, has been very vocal about the hate mail she’s received. The Mississippi Board of Nursing also launched a professional misconduct investigation into her after receiving an anonymous complaint. The board quickly closed the investigation.
“Instead of asking whoever left her son on the island, the institutional Mississippi still muttering Kane’s excuse ‘It’s not my problem'”, said Rev. Dr. Jamal Bryant, who delivered special remarks.
“I wanted to come to Mississippi today from Georgia to let the system and to let the establishment know, let that be the last time you try to intimidate a Black mother,” he added.
A Transparent Investigation
Bryant also demanded that Mississippi authorities handle Wells’ case with the fairness and transparency it deserves.
“If it was five Black boys and one white boy on the boat, by now there would have been an arrest, there would have been a warrant,” Bryant said to the crowd’s cheers. “They trying to act offended because we asked the question, ‘What happened to our brother?'”
Jackson County District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath said she is conducting a thorough investigation into Wells’ death, according to a statement her office released Tuesday.
“I will present the Grand Jury with a thorough, complete, and fair investigation into the death
of Nolan Wells,” McIlrath said.
In the meantime, the Congressional Black Caucus sent a letter to federal authorities urging the U.S. Department of Justice to help investigate Wells’ death.
Authorities had seven days to respond to the letter. Atlanta Black Star reached out to the CBC to determine whether it has received a response and is awaiting a reply.
