Ella Mae Wright’s 100th birthday party featured a breakfast feast as only Wright’s Cafeteria could deliver. And why not? Ella Mae founded the popular Middlebrook Pike eatery that’s been operated since 1975 by son and daughter-in-law David and Donna Wright.
We should all be so spry and feisty at 100. Born July 28, 1917, Wright continues to attend the Baptist church in Andersonville and enjoys cooking.
Mayor Tim Burchett presents a proclamation to Ella Mae Wright. Standing are Wright’s children: Janice Kelley (in yellow), Calvin (behind Burchett) and David (at right).
Tim Burchett had the party in stitches with his joke about the restaurant’s founding. According to the county mayor, J.B. Wright operated an IGA store on the site where the restaurant now stands. (And J.B.’s dad also had operated a store there, David Wright said later.)
So, Ella Mae started cooking lunch at the store, over on the left-hand side that’s still a separate dining area. Over time, her business grew while the grocery business was flat. The Wrights decided to close the store and expand the restaurant.
“Behind every smart man is a woman who knows he’s not that smart,” said Burchett.
They executed the plan and that’s when J.B. discovered Ella Mae’s secret. “She had been stealing groceries from the store (for the restaurant),” said Burchett.
Ella Mae laughed the loudest.
Politicians (past, present and future) attended the event. We spotted U.S. Rep. Jimmy Duncan, Richard Bean, former Judge Gail Jarvis, candidates Bob Thomas, Tom Spangler, Sherry Witt and Nick McBride.