Faz Graham at work.

By JEFFERSON WEAVER
Staff Writer

Faz Graham’s secret to success is simple.

The popular baker adds a little faith to everything she cooks.

“I pray over everything that gets baked here,” she said. “Every day, when I start working at 3 or 4 in the morning, I pray over each piece.”

The native of Trinidad took another step on what she called “the road to the American dream” Monday with a ribbon cutting and grand opening at Faz Bakes! located in the old Dang Yankee Subs building on J.K. Powell Boulevard in Whiteville.

Graham’s name is actually Fauzie, but everyone calls her Faz (it rhymes with Oz).
“I had a boss who started calling me that,” she said, “and the name stayed.”

Graham’s professional training is in computer technology, but her love is cooking. Her brownies, cakes, breads and pies became so popular she began considering opening her own business some time ago.

She already had a base of local Faz-fans; most came to know her skills because of the now-famous brownies, which have been served everywhere from civic club and church dinners to offices and homes. Cakes and pies from Faz are popular in the Whiteville area around holidays and other times when a special cake or pie is needed.

The trademark brownie is still a top seller. At her grand opening Monday, platters of Faz’s famous brownies disappeared twice as fast as the fresh strawberry shortcake and the coconut cake with white frosting.

The custom baking was taking over her home, she said, and it was time to expand and take a chance.

“I wanted some place with some room, good parking, and high visibility,” she said. “This fit perfectly.”

The new bakery and pastry shop has a drive-through window that opens at 6 a.m., as well as a dining room that open at 8 a.m. The shop is open daily until 5 p.m.

“Sometimes we’ll be here longer,” she said. “It depends on how busy we get.”

Faz installed simple tables and chairs in the dining area, and said she hopes to soon install bookcases for visitors to peruse while enjoying a brownie, cookie or other treat. Muffins and breakfast pastries are also on the menu.

She also has plans for poetry readings and book signings, and she envisions a place people will come to relax, visit and have a good time.

“I want people to come in here and enjoy,” she said. “I want them to have their main meal somewhere else, then come here for dessert.”

The bakery, Graham said, is her version of “the American dream come true.”

“This is what the founders, the forefathers wanted,” she said. “They saw a place where if someone is willing to work hard enough, they can do anything they want. My citizenship proves this. If you want it bad enough, you can succeed, no matter who you are.”

The baked goods – especially the brownies, which are often sold door to door by her husband, Riley Elwood Graham – advertise themselves, Graham said. Their youngest daughter, Farial, is almost 16 and also works at the bakery. The Grahams have three other grown children – Kelly, Ourey and Delshay.

The family helps in the bakery, as they have helped create Graham’s tasty treats for years. The bakery was founded, Graham said, to help her family.

“I wanted something better for my family, and we have worked hard for it,” she said. “We still are. That’s what America is all about – people have no reason to lie around and blame somebody else for their problems. They need to get up and get to work if they want to succeed.”

Graham’s goodies were a success on their own well before the bakery opened. Customers have carried brownies from Whiteville all over the country. Someday, Graham said, she’d like to have a FAZ Bakes! in every state of the union.
“My customers told me they’re real popular in California,” she said.

“Companies spend millions on marketing their products, trying to get name recognition,” she said. “I’ve been blessed by enough people that they recognize my name and want my brownies.”

Graham said the business community has been “extremely supportive,” as have her loyal customers.

“Over 100 businesses helped me out one way or the other,” she said. “It’s been a gift from God that Whiteville has been so good to me.

“I figure that every time you do something good for someone, it comes back to you in lots of little ways,” she said. “I pay some extra attention to my baked goods – I take pride in doing a good job – and if that makes someone’s day a little better, well, good!”

Graham takes tremendous pride in her country as well as her cooking.

“People hear me talk about America and how great it is, and ask me what I think of it now, with all the problems and the politics and things. I tell them I love my country, and I’m proud of it, no matter what. This is my country.”

Faz Bakes! sells breakfast muffins, brownies, pies, cakes, cookies, and bread made to order. For more information call 640-1027.