Browning, Shelby named Retirees of the Year

Billy Browning and Tom Shelby have been named Mississippi Power’s 2018 Retirees of the Year for their community service efforts.

The awards were presented during holiday get-togethers held by the various retiree groups. Browning and Shelby each received $500 to donate to the charities of their choice.

Browning, a former customer service manager, was recognized by the Hattiesburg Senior Watts.

He is an avid supporter of the DuBard School for Language Disorders at the University of Southern Mississippi. He is the founder of the DuBard School Foundation and serves on the advisory board.

Browning also serves on the board of the Economic Development Authority of Jones County and the advisory board of Hancock Bank. He is a member of the First Baptist Church in Ellisville where he teaches Sunday School and serves as the church clerk.

In Ellisville, he led a fundraising effort to purchase body cameras for the police department and also serves as chair of the site plan review committee for the city.

Shelby, a former customer serviceman, was recognized by the Laurel Live Wires.

He volunteers his time to elderly neighbors and those in need by doing home repairs, driving them to doctor visits and providing firewood. His hobby is photography, and he enjoys taking pictures at weddings, church events and of babies at no cost.

A veteran of the U.S. Army, Shelby recently added two more to his home – his mother-in-law who has been diagnosed with early-stage dementia and an autistic nephew he has guardianship of after the child’s parents died.

Shelby is a member of Smith Chapel United Methodist Church in Laurel and serves as chairman of the church board. He is a mentor to the youth of the church, assisting with outings and church-sponsored trips.

Mississippi Power, a subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), produces safe, reliable and environmentally responsible energy for more than 187,000 customers in 23 southeast Mississippi counties. With nearly 160 megawatts of approved solar energy capacity, Mississippi Power is the largest partner in providing renewable energy in the state of Mississippi. Visit our website at mississippipower.com, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

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