J. Odell Anders, who served Adams County for 20 years as sheriff, tax collector and chancery clerk, died Sunday of heart failure at Natchez Regional Medical Center.

Troy Watkins, who served as mayor and state senator while Anders was in office, called Anders &uot;one of my very favorite people.&uot;

&uot;He was always a loyal friend, and if he told you he would do something, he did it,&uot;&160;he added.

Others who knew Anders, 76, described him as a professional man who did his best to serve the citizens of Adams County.

&uot;He was an excellent public servant,&uot; said County Attorney Marion Smith. &uot;I was also an attorney during the time he served, and I always found his office to be well-run.

&uot;The filing of cases and maintenance of records was always well done, and when you went into the (chancery clerk’s) office, you were always treated in a courteous manner.&uot;

Tony Byrne, who was mayor of Natchez during part of the time Anders was in office, said Anders maintained a smooth working relationship with city officials.

&uot;We always had a good working relationship,&uot; Byrne said. &uot;He was always very cooperative and tried to do anything he could to help.&uot;

Anders, a longtime resident of Adams County, was sheriff from 1964 to 1968 and tax collector from 1972 until 1973. He then served as chancery clerk from 1973 to 1988.

He was past president of the Mississippi Sheriffs Association and the Mississippi Chancery Clerks Association.