Smiley Anders for June 19, 2009

• By SMILEY ANDERS
• Advocate columnist
• Published: Jun 19, 2009 - Page: 1B

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There’s something about Mardi Gras that lifts the spirits even in the darkest of times.

One of the first questions I heard after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina was “What about Mardi Gras?”

Carnival occupies a central place in the culture of Louisiana.

Here’s a far-off appeal for a bit of Mardi Gras.

Gail Stevens, director of Coffeyville Street Ministry in Coffeyville, Kan., says folks there are still recovering from a July 2007 flood that destroyed some 300 homes:

“As we go door to door every Monday night, we see if we can help the people in any way. While there, we like to give the children toys or something they can hold on to.

“We thought that maybe you could donate Mardi Gras beads, so we can see some smiles.”

Call (620) 251-9530.

History lesson
Kathleen McGraw Erickson, of Jackson, tells of the death of a newsman cousin who started at The Advocate and covered some historic events.

Alvin Preston McGraw died May 26 in Denton, Texas, at 94. A native of Centreville, Miss., he attended LSU and worked 42 years for United Press International.

He was at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas when President John Kennedy died, and covered the funeral of Lee Harvey Oswald.

He became part of that story when police said they needed pallbearers and he volunteered.

He covered both the Jack Ruby murder trial and the later Clay Shaw trial in New Orleans, and also covered the integration of Little Rock schools in 1957.