Our Staff

MICHAEL J. COLLINS

Owner & Licensed Funeral Director

Michael Collins is the Owner and Manager of James R. Gray Funeral Home & Genesee Valley Cremation where he is dedicated to providing compassionate, respectful, and professional care to the families he serves.

A lifelong resident of the Rochester area, Michael grew up in the Town of Chili on Stover Road. He graduated from Aquinas Institute in 1999 and later pursued his passion for funeral service, graduating with honors in Mortuary Science from Hudson Valley Community College in 2016.

Michael and his wife, Amelia Collins, reside in Penfield with their 2 daughters. He is the son of James and Cindy Gray and values the strong family and community connections that continue to shape both his personal and professional life.

Active within the profession and community, Michael serves as a board member of the Grove Place & Westside Cemetery Association and the Rochester Genesee Valley Funeral Directors Association. He is also a member of the Sons of the American Legion Post 1830.

Outside of work, Michael enjoys golfing and playing hockey, activities that reflect his appreciation for teamwork, community, and lifelong relationships.

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JAMES R. GRAY

Manager & Licensed Funeral Director

Jim is a native of Rochester’s 19th ward community and grew up on Brookdale Avenue. He attended West High School, Monroe Community College and graduated from Simmons School of Embalming and Mortuary Science in 1976. Jim became a licensed funeral director in 1977 and worked with numerous area funeral homes until 1990 when he took over ownership of the Harold F. Wood Funeral Home, which he renamed the James R. Gray Funeral Home in 1998. His funeral home is the oldest continuously family-owned and operated funeral home in Gates. He is married to Cindy (Foos) Gray, a Gates native, and they have three grown children: Michael Collins, Benjamin Collins, and Lindsay Gray.

Jim serves as President of Gates Volunteer Ambulance Service. He is a member of the Rochester-Genesee Valley Funeral Directors Association, the New York State Funeral Directors Association, Sons of the American Legion Post 1830, Co-Founder of Friends of Gates Recreation and Parks and a Past-President of the Gates Lions Club.

James also founded Genesee Valley Cremation, a low-cost Cremation Service, serving Monroe County and surrounding areas.

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