A Little Background
Faith was born and raised in the South, where the kitchen was the heart of the home and recipes were passed down like treasured heirlooms. She learned to cook at the elbows of her mother and grandmother, absorbing not just techniques, but the love, patience, and purpose woven into every dish they made.
Every summer, she spent two magical weeks on her grandparents’ farm in Mississippi—days filled with snapping beans, shelling peas, helping in the garden, and lingering in the warm quiet of her grandmother’s company. Of course, she also spent plenty of time climbing the massive Magnolia tree in the yard, riding her uncle’s horses, and running wild with her cousins. Those summers were simple, sweet, and unforgettable.
But what left the deepest imprint wasn’t the farm chores or the adventures—it was her grandmother herself. A woman of remarkable kindness, gentleness, and quiet strength, she lived a life of unwavering faith and devotion. Her love for the Lord shined through every word and every action. Life on the farm was demanding, yet her grandmother carried it with grace, purpose, and a deep sense of family.
Faith remembers a time when communities looked after one another, when sharing food was an act of love, and when home felt peaceful and content. Her grandmother embodied all of that. When she went home to be with the Lord in 1988, she left behind a legacy that is still cherished. Sweet Odelle’s—named in her honor—is Faith’s way of keeping that legacy alive and giving glory to the One her grandmother loved.
So, How Did This Business Evolve?
For Faith, cinnamon rolls aren’t just a recipe—they’re a tradition. Since she was fifteen, it has been her holiday responsibility to make homemade cinnamon rolls each Thanksgiving and Christmas. With three brothers in the house, the competition for the last roll became its own family sport.
Ever since the early 1990s, Faith wondered if these rolls—and other cherished family recipes—could someday become a business. A small trial in the early 2000s gave her invaluable experience and lit a spark that never faded. Over the years, she continued baking for family, friends, coworkers, sports teams, and special events, refining the recipe, perfecting the process, and nurturing the dream bit by bit.
As her family grew and recipes were adapted for a child with food allergies, new traditions emerged, inspiring vegan options that honor the same homemade goodness.
Encouragement from family, from fellow Auburn University EMBA classmates, and a God-given entrepreneurial spirit inherited from her father ultimately propelled Sweet Odelle’s into becoming a reality—right here in Auburn and Opelika.
It is our mission to share these sweet traditions with you, and we hope they bring the same joy, warmth, and togetherness to your home as they have to ours… from our family to yours.