Billy Head

Billy Wayne Head, 83, passed away on Thursday, February 1, 2024 at North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo.  He was born to the late John, Jr. “Red” and Rita Evelyn West Head on April 16, 1940 in Monroe County.  On April 21, 1961, he and his high school sweetheart, Peggy Pearson, eloped, sealing their bond in a union that spanned 62 years until Peggy’s passing just two short months ago.  The tale of their love story was Billy’s favorite to recount, of how he picked Peggy up from school and drove until they reached the Alabama state line, and he let her out to walk across.  They drove to the next town and found a preacher who wed them for a mere $5.  It was a sum Billy would later say was the best he ever spent, and if given the chance, he would have paid $5 more.  

Billy graduated from Hatley High School in 1959, where he excelled in basketball.  He continued his education at Itawamba Junior College and received his Associates of Arts degree in 1961.  For 35 years, he worked as an electrician at Kerr-McGee Chemical in Hamilton.  Though he enjoyed playing golf and hunting, fishing on the Buttahatchie River with his son, Tommy, held a special place in his heart.  

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, February 6, 2024 at Cleveland-Moffett Funeral Home in Amory with Rev. Sammy Washburn officiating.  Burial will follow in the Durrett Cemetery.

Left to cherish his memory are his daughter, Belinda, and her husband, Andy of Bentonville, Arkansas; his son, Tommy and his wife, Sonya of the Athens Community; three grandchildren, Brittany and her husband, Don Hardcastle of Sapulpa, OK, Caleb Carter and his wife, Megan of Bentonville, AR and Maggie Head of Amory and her fiancé, Ethen Harrelson of Saltillo; and two great grandchildren, Braxton and Bentley Lasley.  He is also survived by his sister, Martha Sheely of the Athens Community and his niece, Brandy Sheely (Kelly Granger) of Baton Rouge.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, and brother-in-law, John Sheely.

Pallbearers will be Robert Odom, Scott Wright, Harvey Wallace, Randy Hood, Eric Swan, and Daine Smith.

Visitation will be from noon until service time on Tuesday at the funeral home.

Condolences may be shared with the family at clevelandmoffettfuneralhome.com