Shirley Lovelace, a retired special needs teacher who has been a Special Olympics for more than 20 years, has been named the City of Biloxi’s Distinguished Volunteer of the Year.
Lovelace, who was described as a “behind-the-scenes worker” who has volunteers for hundreds of hours, topped a list of dozens of individuals, civic groups and non-profits recognized in the city’s annual Volunteer Recognition Awards Ceremony on Tuesday at the Biloxi City Civic.
Other award winners:
Community volunteer: Katherine Doyle
Youth volunteer: Katie Miller
Health volunteer: Biloxi Regional Medical Center Auxiliary
Arts and history volunteer: Bill Collins
Sports volunteer: Lauren Koops
Education volunteer: Amy Pullin
Adult group volunteer: Biloxi Lions Club
Youth volunteer group: Biloxi High School Campus Security Council
City of Biloxi employee volunteer: Roy Matthews
Non-profit organization: Coastal Women for Change
Military volunteer: Senior Airman Sharla Starks
Military group volunteer: Fishbowl Student Ministry Center, White Rope Program
Senior Citizens volunteer: Ethel Curry
See photo album from city’s Facebook page
Read background on all the winners