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Our Humble Beginnings | Bailey’s Funeral Home

Bailey’s Funeral Home, a family-owned and operated business dedicated to providing unparalleled service by near and far has served the greater New York City community since 1931. We are there for you in your time of need. Our professional funeral directors and staff are available to help you though any and all stages of arrangements for your loved one. We offer private counseling and pre-need services.

In 1931, G.L. Jones recognized a need in the Harlem Community to give back to the ones he had grown to love and care for and did – by offering affordable low-cost funeral services to the community. Mr. Jones purchased the funeral home located at 455 – 457 Lenox Ave, now known as Malcolm X Boulevard, and G.L. Jones Funeral Home became that beacon of hope to families in their time of need. Mr. Jones was a very well-respected individual not only in the community that he serviced, but the church as well. Mr. Jones was called upon throughout the five boroughs of New York City.

Upon Mr. Jones passing, the ownership of G.L. Jones Funeral home went to his son George Jones and cousin Edward Bailey. Together, George and Edward decided to change the name of the funeral home to Bailey’s Funeral Home, Inc. which became a house hold name in the Harlem community and throughout the five boroughs of the greater New York City area. Mr. Edward Bailey, licensed funeral director and embalmer, decided to continue his cousin’s legacy of providing affordable low-cost funeral services to families in their time of need.

In 1997, Mr. Edward Bailey decided to leave the funeral service business and move back down to the Carolinas’. Shortly after, Mr. George Jones, owner and managing director, called upon his cousin, Mr. Willie Benton, to purchase Bailey’s Funeral Home and become the new owner and licensed funeral director and embalmer.

Mr. Willie Benton, Jr. has over 51 years’ experience in the funeral service profession. He is the current owner and funeral director of Bailey’s Funeral Home. Mr. Benton started in this profession in 1967, at the age of 12 with Palmer Funeral Home, in Sumter, South Carolina under tutelage of Robert and Perry Palmer; two of the most well-known funeral directors in the state of South Carolina at that time. Mr. Benton started out washing the cars and digging graves for Palmer Funeral Home. During that time as a young man, he decided his path to a career as a funeral director. Mr. Benton has worked and is well versed in all aspects of the funeral business. His professionalism is shown from start to finish.

Mr. Benton graduated with Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing and Management from Howard University, and then graduated from American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Services and Education in 1975. Before purchasing Bailey’s Funeral Home, from his cousin, Mr. Benton worked for Gilmore Funeral Home in St. Albans, NY for many years as a licensed funeral director and embalmer. In addition, Mr. Benton worked as a trade embalmer with various funeral homes throughout the five boroughs of the greater New York City area and abroad.

Today, Bailey’s Funeral Home continues the legacy of providing affordable low-cost funeral services to the community it serves. Still located in Harlem, Bailey’s Funeral Home is a beacon of hope to the families it serves.

Bailey’s Funeral Home is open 24/7 to serve you in your time of need.