Ms. Laura Ellen Head, 82, of the Derby community, passed away Sunday morning, August 5th, 2018, surrounded by her family. Laura was born Thursday, December 26, 1935 in Poplarville, the 3rd of 6 children to Vireece & Tena (Mitchell) Smith. She grew up a true country girl, enjoying the outdoors doing things such as fishing, playing softball, and working in the yard planting flowers and shrubs. Laura was a determined young woman, graduating from McNeil High School as a member of the Class of 1953. From then, she began an entrepreneurial career that spanned a few decades. Laura started and ran several businesses of her own, which began with a shoe store, and over the years included cafes, a grocery store, a snow ball stand, what seemed to be a constantly ongoing yard sale, burgers from her house, and oh yes, The Best Little Chickenhouse in Derby. She was definitely a "can-do" woman, not afraid to put her dreams into actions. Definitely a fun-loving, jovial woman who loved to laugh, she is remembered as a very loving mother and grandmother who adored her family. She enjoyed having them all around her, especially at Christmas, when she made sure that everyone had something under the tree. She will be fondly remembered, and sadly missed by all who knew and loved her. Laura was preceded by: her parents, Vireece and Tena Smith; her husband, James Head; grandsons Keith Fairchild and Jason Fairchild Lee; and brothers Nolan and Frank Smith, Sr. Left to cherish her memories are her children: daughters Sharon (John) Lee and Tonya (Al) Tynes, both of Poplarville, and sons Bobby (Davina) Purvis of GA, and Allen (Sherrell) Brown of Canton; her stepchildren, Kenny (Carolyn) Head of Poplarville, Arnie (Kay) Head of AL, and Darlene Monzon of TX; sisters Doris Dillard and Gracie (Charles) Lumpkin, and one brother, Percy (Barbara) Smith, all of Poplarville; as well as 15 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great-grandchild, numerous nieces, nephews, and countless friends and customers through the years. The family will receive friends for visitation on Monday evening, August 6th, beginning at 6:00 PM at Derby Place Missionary Baptist Church. The funeral service will be Tuesday morning at 11:00 AM in the church sanctuary, and afterward she will be interred in the church cemetery. Trinity Funeral Services is honored to serve the Head family, and asks that you keep them in your thoughts and prayers during this trying time.