For inquiries on community engagement initiatives or executive strategy related to historic preservation, please contact us at (352) 257-4525.
Where Celebration Becomes Art in Our Community Engagement. Four Generations of Baking Excellence Focused on Historic Preservation. Luxury Custom Cakes & Signature Desserts Crafted with an Executive Strategy.
The Original Cake Lady of Crystal River May 5, 1886 – October 5, 1987 Known throughout Crystal River as the original "Cake Lady," Mary Gray Bunch built a legacy of hospitality, generosity, and exceptional baking that fostered community engagement. Her kitchen was a gathering place where celebrations were shared, traditions were preserved through historic preservation, and lasting memories were created. With every cake she crafted, Mary showcased a simple but powerful belief: food has the ability to bring people together. Whether preparing desserts for family gatherings, church events, community celebrations, or special occasions, her executive strategy to ensure excellence spread throughout the region. Her cakes became synonymous with quality, care, and the warmth of home. Four Generations of Baking Excellence. One Enduring Legacy.
Keeper of Baking Tradition & Master of Sweet Potato Pie
(September 28, 1929 - April 15, 2007)
The daughter of Mary Gray Bunch and mother of Theola Bunch McCray, Helen Bunch embraced a cherished family tradition of baking excellence that fostered community engagement. Renowned throughout the neighborhood for her exceptional baking and unforgettable sweet potato pies, Helen's kitchen became a vibrant hub of warmth, comfort, and connection.
With every pie, cake, and dessert she crafted, Helen exemplified the love, care, and hospitality that defined the Bunch family legacy, ensuring her recipes were treasured family heirlooms. These culinary creations, passed down from mother to daughter, honored both historic preservation and the spirit of togetherness across generations, remembered long after the last slice was served.
A Legacy Passed from Mother to Daughter, Generation to Generation.
Heart of the Family Kitchen
(December 12, 1945 - July 4, 2007)
The daughter of Helen Bunch and mother of Andrea K. McCray, Theola Bunch McCray was known for her exceptional baking and remarkable cooking skills, embodying a true commitment to her family and the community. The kitchen was a gathering place where love was expressed through food, recipes were shared, and where generations engaged in the joys of culinary tradition around the family table.
Whether preparing family meals, holiday desserts, or special celebrations, Theola's reputation for excellence was well established. With an executive strategy that centered on transforming simple ingredients into memorable experiences, she created dishes that nourished both body and spirit.
Today, her influence continues through Andrea K & Co Cake Atelier, where every cake, dessert, and client experience reflects the traditions, care, and excellence she embodied throughout her life. This commitment also aligns with a legacy of historic preservation, ensuring that the art of baking remains alive for future generations.
From Mary's Cakes to Helen's Pies, to Theola's Family Table—A Legacy of Baking Excellence Continues.
Preserving Legacy. Continuing Baking Excellence. Building Community Engagement.
As a fourth-generation baker, Andrea K. McCray proudly carries forward a family legacy that began with her great-grandmother, Mary Gray Bunch, the original "Cake Lady" of Crystal River.
Inspired by the traditions passed down through the generations, Andrea blends decades of baking excellence with refined artistry and contemporary design as part of her executive strategy to elevate her craft.
Known for her exceptional baking, attention to detail, and commitment to creating extraordinary experiences, Andrea believes that every cake tells a story. Each creation is thoughtfully designed to celebrate life's most meaningful moments while honoring the craftsmanship and hospitality that have defined her family's legacy of historic preservation for more than a century.
Today, Andrea's work represents more than just baking. It is the continuation of a family's story—one rooted in love, service, celebration, and the belief that the sweetest legacies are the ones we share with others.
Four Generations of Baking Excellence. One Enduring Legacy.
At Andrea K & Co Cake Atelier, excellence extends beyond the kitchen. Our founder, Andrea K. McCray, is a respected community leader known for her dedication to community engagement, preservation advocacy, and strategic advisory initiatives. Her work reflects the same commitment to craftsmanship, integrity, and legacy that defines every dessert we create.
A fourth-generation baker continuing a family tradition that dates back to the late nineteenth century, Andrea has garnered recognition for her leadership in historic preservation, community engagement, organizational development, and cultural heritage initiatives throughout Florida.
Recognition & Leadership
- Spotlight Speaker, National Black Cemetery Conference at the University of South Florida, St. Petersburg
- President & CEO, Friends of Crystal Memorial Gardens Cemetery
- Community Advisory Council Member, HCA Florida Citrus Hospital
- Advocate for historic preservation and State Grant Administrator
- Judge, Inaugural Juneteenth Scholarship Pageant
- Founder & Principal Advisor, Andrea K & Co
Featured Through Service & Leadership
Andrea's work has been highlighted through partnerships and collaborations with organizations focused on preservation, education, community advancement, and cultural stewardship. Her executive strategy continues to bridge the worlds of heritage, entrepreneurship, and community impact.
Whether preserving history, advising organizations, or crafting bespoke dessert experiences, Andrea remains committed to one guiding principle:
Honor the legacy. Elevate the experience. Leave a lasting impression.
