Sisters Ethel and Rena Clark started a popular local baking business producing pies and cakes from Ethels home on Butner Street in the early 1950’s. They passed this legacy on to Rena’s daughter, Willie G. Watts, teaching her how to make the pies and cakes. After Ethel passed away in 1993, Wille continued the family tradition from her own kitchen next door to her Aunt’s old home there on Butner Street.

As one neighbor recalled “She’ll (Ethel) make them and then she’d call, let you know she done made them. Come pick them up.” Many others in town fondly remember these phone calls, also. Sometimes it might only have been just a slice of cake or pie. Local legend also has it that the delivery route that included Ethels house was highly coveted because

Ethel would usually leave a piece of cake or pie in the box most each day for the mail carrier. There were pies filled with fruit or sweet potatoes and fried to a crisp in vegetable oil in an iron skillet. These fried pies made Ethel known locally as “the Pie Lady”. You could find the apple and peach fried pies being sold at Johnny’s Steaks and Bar-B-Que. From time to time, She would bring these pies to some of the local business for the employees to enjoy, showing here appreciation for them.

Ethel was also known for her trademark five-flavor pound cake and her coconut cake.

According to a newspaper article about her in the 1970’s, “Ethel Clark is one of the most sought-after professionals in Powder Springs. She is not a doctor or a lawyer but her skill as a baker is famous.”

Ethel also helped establish and build the Church of God on Long Street in Powder Springs. She was a very integral part of her community and was greatly loved and respected by everyone who knew her.

Rena Clark was born in 1916 and passed away in 2001 at the age of 85. Ethel was born in 1912 and passed away in 1993 at the age of 81.

Both were remarkable ladies and great assets to all of our communities here in Powder Springs.

Above information came from: “Images of America – Powder Springs” Book and “Powder Springs Has Some Deep Roots In It” Book. These books can be found on file located in the Research Room at the Seven Springs Museum.