A popular Louisiana newspaper columnist with Natchez roots died last week after more than 50 years writing for The Advocate of Baton Rouge.
Smiley Anders, 86, died Friday at his Baton Rouge home. Born in Natchez in 1937, Anders and his family lived on the 900 block of Washington Street before they moved to Baton Rouge when he was eight. They lived in an apartment at the back of his grandmother Camille Druetta’s home. He attended the old Carpenter School on Washington Street until the fourth grade.
Anders’ Natchez relatives included cousin John Druetta, who lived in the family’s Washington Street home until his death in November at age 101, and his grandfather and uncle, who operated the old DeMarco’s Drug Store on Franklin Street in downtown Natchez.
A journalist throughout much of his career, Anders began with the Baton Rouge newspaper in 1973 as a business reporter. He started writing his three-days-a-week columns in 1979, which he continued doing until May shortly before his death.
“For decades, Smiley Anders was synonymous with The Advocate, delighting readers with his column,” said Judi Terzotis, publisher of Georges Media Group, which owns The Advocate. “He had a quick wit and heart of gold.”
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