10/30/2025
A Sweet Dilemma
By: Camille Anding
For a Special Ed student in the 60s, school wasn’t much more than a “baby sitting” routine. Jean Hill’s sister, Cindy, was one of those students, and Jean’s mom believed her daughter could learn a trade. Since cakes are a universal delight, this mom spent three nights a week with Cindy and two of her classmates, teaching them how to bake cakes. The girls learned the art of cake-baking, and so did Jean who was her mother’s helper in the kitchen.
As a wife and mother, Jean spent ten years as a secretary at St. Dominic Hospital. Her interest in delivering babies was the catalyst that pushed her to work part time so she could train to become a Surgical Technician in labor and delivery. She earned her certification and began working at St. Dominic with baby deliveries. She also carried her love for baking with her. Word of mouth was sufficient for Jean to keep a steady delivery of cakes and cookies to her friends at work.
However, in one single moment during a delivery, Jean’s medical future was halted. Her hands went completely numb. Tests showed that her spinal cord hadn’t grown as her body grew. Surgeons put a spinal stimulator in her back to correct the numbing problem, but the procedure left her with minimum head rotation. Her medical career was over, so what next?
She continued to bake sweets, a joy that had brought her so much pleasure and lots of friends. Those friends began placing orders when they heard about her situation. Again, word of mouth brought a flood of sweet-loving customers along with another problem that Jean did not want to deal with- the business end. Numbers nor the bookkeeping were Jean’s forte. God provided the solution – again!
Melissa Parker and Jean had met each other years before through their secretarial positions. The two laugh at how they once could barely tolerate one another, but God had slowly turned their dislike for each other into a true friendship. They talked often about Jean’s new enterprise, and Jean shared her frustrations about the business end. That’s when the two came up with the great idea of a partnership. Melissa calls Jean a creating guru, and Jean credits Melissa for taking the business load off of her shoulders. The partnership works for Melissa because she can keep the business books after hours while working full time as the administrative assistant in Respiratory Therapy at Baptist Hospital.
As good friends and partners, they understand the strengths and weaknesses of each other. Jean says with assurance, “Don’t let Melissa in the kitchen!” Melissa responds, “Don’t let Jean behind the computer!”
“Southern Belles’ Delights” began official operation in 2001. Even though Jean considers herself her own instructor, she’s learned additional skills in several Confectionery Schools. Her choice of selections include “all kinds” of cakes, cookies and cheesecakes, with options of pick-up or delivery. She recently added Keto and diabetic sweets to the selections. Even restaurants value her scrumptious cheese cakes. They are on the dessert menu at Jo’s Diner.
Jean has found her happy place and doesn’t hesitate to confirm that God has always been with her. What she thought was a dilemma that would end her expectations for a permanent career turned out to be just a “sweet” change in deliveries!
Southern Belles’ Delights
