Community Highlights: Meet Lisa W. Jefferson of Sip and Frost Cake Bar and Atlanta Homebuyers Realty Group, and founder of Atlanta Property Preservation Partners

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa W. Jefferson.

Hi Lisa W., we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I often say my journey began in a tiny town with a very big dream. I was born and raised in Plaquemine, Louisiana, a small community about 15 miles outside of Baton Rouge, where I was brought up by a single mother as the third of four children. Growing up in a town marked by clear racial division, I always felt a pull toward something greater, even before I had the language for entrepreneurship, purpose, or legacy.

As a young girl, I loved getting lost in the big brown encyclopedia set my mother proudly bought for my siblings and me. One day, I stumbled across the words “philanthropist” and “psychiatrist.” I didn’t fully understand what those titles meant, but something about them resonated deeply. I studied and researched their meanings and decided that one day I wanted to become both. With limited guidance but a big dream, I charted my course. I ultimately fell short of becoming a doctor in the traditional sense, but I found another path: I became a licensed minister, mentor, coach, and counselor—roles that allow me to live out the heart of what drew me to those words in the first place.

Through my community involvement and our not-for-profit entity, I embrace my philanthropic mission by providing FREE Kids Camp programs that teach leadership, team building, public speaking, and the importance of gratitude. In partnership with the Tommy Nobis Academy Workforce, Sip and Frost Cake Bar has created a welcoming environment that offers job opportunities to young adults with neurodivergent and intellectual disabilities. As we continue to inspire, encourage, and empower women, we are excited about the growing number of participants who attend our monthly Soul Sister Empowerment Brunch. At the time of this writing, we are also preparing for our newest partnership with the Department of Labor, where we hope to teach underserved communities and youth and adults the basic and advanced skills necessary in the field of artificial intelligence, so that people of color and underserved populations have the opportunity to advance in the new world of technology.

Throughout my career, as a God-fearing woman, I have been given platforms that allow me to listen, encourage, empower, and speak life into people—both young and old. That same heart for connection and healing led to the vision for “Let’s Kuhnectt: Getting to Know Yourself and the People Around You,” a card game I invented to help people see beyond their issues, problems, and circumstances and move toward deeper understanding of themselves and others.

After graduating high school in 1985, I attended Southern University, which exposed me to new possibilities and environments. Around that time, a summer visit to my father and cousins in Atlanta changed the trajectory of my life. They lived in the Camp Creek area, and I was pleasantly surprised—and deeply inspired—to see people who looked like me owning homes and businesses. Standing there as a young woman full of adventure, I told my cousins that one day I would leave Louisiana and make Atlanta my home.

In 1986, after my husband and I married, that declaration became our reality and then some. My husband of 40 years and I share a blended family that includes two bonus adult children, Carmel and Brandon, and one biological daughter, Crystal, who is now 36. Together, we’ve owned multiple homes and multiple businesses, and we both agree that God has been good to us and that the journey has been richer than we ever imagined.

When I first moved to Georgia, I worked in the corporate healthcare sector. It was stable and respectable work, but deep down I knew my true passion was elsewhere. I was drawn to ownership, to creating opportunities, and to helping others do the same. That passion led me to real estate. In 1999, while working during the day and taking real estate classes in the evening, I earned my real estate salesperson license. Three years later, I became a broker. In 2004, I opened my own boutique brokerage, Atlanta Homebuyers Realty Group, with a clear mission: to help families improve their credit, become educated about the process, and purchase their first homes.

Nearly 27 years later, I am still actively serving buyers, sellers, and investors throughout the Metro Atlanta area. Over time, my entrepreneurial spirit continued to grow. I launched a rehab company and several service-based businesses. Sip and Frost Cake Bar, located in Stonecrest, Georgia, is a sweet extension of my creativity and love for celebration. It’s more than a cake bar; it’s an experience. We create custom cakes and desserts, host DIY cake decorating parties for kids and adults onsite, facilitate offsite DIY sessions for corporate team building, and rent our event space for celebrations that bring people together and turn milestones into memories. The brand is known for connecting people and making every customer feel seen and celebrated.

Today, I am the owner of Sip and Frost Cake Bar—a bakery, DIY cake studio, and event rental venue in Stonecrest, Georgia—the owner of Atlanta Homebuyers Realty Group, and the founder of Atlanta Property Preservation Partners. I am also the author of two books, Straight Talk for Men from a Woman’s Perspective and Speak Life, Not Death, and the inventor of Let’s Kuhnectt: Getting to Know Yourself and the People Around You. My calling as a minister is the thread that ties it all together. At the core of everything I do is a desire to serve, to uplift, and to help people see what is possible for their lives. My story is one of faith, perseverance, and vision—from a small-town girl in Plaquemine to a multi-business owner, author, inventor, and community servant in Metro Atlanta area—still committed to growth, impact, and purpose.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road has not always been smooth, but every bump has taught me something valuable. Leaving the familiarity of Louisiana and starting over in a big city meant learning how to navigate new systems, cultures, and opportunities without a roadmap. There were seasons when money was tight, deals fell through, and business plans simply did not work out the way I envisioned.

As a woman, a wife, a mother, and a Black entrepreneur, I’ve had to push through moments of doubt, closed doors, and being underestimated. Early in my real estate career, I worked full-time in healthcare while studying at night, all while balancing family responsibilities and a growing vision. There were times when I felt stretched thin, but quitting was never an option.

Building Atlanta Homebuyers Realty Group and my other ventures meant embracing risk, making mistakes, and learning how to pivot. I faced challenges such as clients with difficult credit situations, shifting real estate markets, surviving economic downturns, and carrying the weight of keeping a business afloat while still serving my community with excellence and integrity. Spiritually and personally, I had to grow stronger—leaning on prayer, discipline, and a deep belief that my work is bigger than me.

Those challenges shaped my resilience, sharpened my business instincts, and deepened my commitment to helping others overcome their own obstacles. The road hasn’t been easy, but it has been purposeful—and I wouldn’t trade the lessons for anything.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Your Work – Business / Practice / Firm What is the I am the owner of Sip and Frost Cake Bar and Atlanta Homebuyers Realty Group, and the founder of Atlanta Property Preservation Partners.?
Atlanta Homebuyers Realty Group is a boutique real estate brokerage focused on education, empowerment, and homeownership. We specialize in helping first-time homebuyers, families working to improve their credit, and investors looking to build wealth through real estate. What sets us apart is our hands-on, heart-led approach. We don’t just open doors; we walk our clients through every phase—from credit repair strategies and budgeting conversations to closing day and beyond. I’m most proud that many of our clients are first-generation homeowners who never thought homeownership was possible until they partnered with us.

Sip and Frost Cake Bar, located in Stonecrest, Georgia, is a sweet extension of my creativity and love for celebration. It’s more than a cake bar; it’s an experience. We create custom cakes and desserts, host DIY cake decorating parties for individuals and groups onsite, facilitate DIY sessions for corporate team building, and rent our event space for celebrations that bring people together and turn milestones into memories. The brand is known for its flavor, presentation, and personal touch—connecting people and making every customer feel seen and celebrated.

Atlanta Property Preservation Partners grew out of my understanding of the importance of maintaining and protecting real estate assets. We focus on preserving and enhancing properties—whether for homeowners, landlords, or investors—so that their investments hold and increase in value over time. It reflects my belief that ownership is only the beginning; stewardship is what sustains wealth.

Beyond my businesses, my work as an author, inventor, and minister all centers around one mission: helping people know who they are, understand their value, and speak life into their future. Straight Talk for Men from a Woman’s Perspective and Speak Life, Not Death both explore communication, relationships, and the power of words. Let’s Kuhnectt is a tool designed to help people better understand themselves and the people around them, building deeper, healthier connections. My ministry and community service work tie all of this together—whether I’m in ministry, at a closing table, in the kitchen, or in a boardroom, I’m here to pour into people.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
For anyone just starting out, I would say this: be clear on your “why” before you chase the “what.” Businesses, trends, and markets change, but a strong sense of purpose will carry you through the hard seasons. Don’t despise small beginnings; the lessons you learn when you have little will prepare you to manage more when it comes.

Invest in yourself—your mindset, your skills, and your spiritual and emotional health. Get mentors, stay teachable, and don’t be afraid to start where you are with what you have. I wish I had known earlier that you don’t have to wait until everything is perfect to start. Take the class, file the paperwork, make the call, launch the idea. You can refine along the way.

Also, protect your integrity. Your name is a brand long before you have a logo. How you treat people, how you handle setbacks, and how you conduct business will follow you. Finally, remember that success is a journey. Celebrate small wins, give yourself grace, and understand that detours don’t cancel destiny.

Pricing:

• Real estate services: Complimentary buyer consultations; listing commissions and fees are tailored to the property, scope of work, and market conditions.
• Sip & Frost Cake Bar: Custom cake and dessert pricing varies by size, design, and complexity. DIY cake decorating sessions for kids, adults, and corporate team building start at $58 per person. Venue rental starts at $195 per hour.
• Atlanta Property Preservation Partners: Pricing depends on the level of service and the property’s condition; estimates are provided after an initial assessment.
• Speaking engagements, workshops, and ministry events: Honorariums and fees are discussed based on event type, length, and location.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lisajefferson.com
• Instagram: @sipandfrostcakebar
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sipandfrostcakebar/reels/