Maurice Russell Grey lives by the credo, “to whom much has been given, much is expected”. It’s a motto passed down to him through his family who immigrated to the US from the Caribbean. Through hard work and a dedication to education, they managed to build a successful real estate business which has spanned over 90 years and three generations in the historic community of Harlem. They believed in property ownership, entrepreneurship and giving back, and those are the core principles Maurice embraces to this day.

Born and raised in the village of Harlem, Maurice was surrounded by successful black professionals and business owners.  He graduated high school from the Bronx High School of Science in 1992, where he captained his basketball team. He was encouraged to apply to Rutgers University by his mother, who attended Douglass College years earlier after she immigrated to the United States from her native country of Jamaica. Rutgers awarded him a James Dickson Carr Scholarship, and so began his 29 year relationship with Rutgers University.  Rutgers opened many doors for him, not only providing him with a top-notch education, but it is also where he met his beautiful wife of 15 years, Tashna Lilly Grey.  After 4 years, he graduated from Rutgers College in 1996, with a degree in Political Science and Africana Studies. After graduation, he began working for his family firm, Edwards Sisters Realty, the oldest black owned real estate firm in New York State, as the third generation of the business.  He started at the firm working with his father Maurice Edward Grey, as a bookkeeper/office assistant, and doing whatever odd jobs were required. His father taught him early on that he would open doors for him, but it was his responsibility to walk through, and find his own opportunities, and that’s exactly what he did.