Members of the Allied Funeral Associates Insurance Company’s Board of Directors paused for a photo during the recent district meeting held in Indianola. The company is planning to open a district sales office on Allen Road, just off U.S. 49, within the next couple of months. Pictured left to right are members Wellinton Byas, Victor Byas II—Sales and Marketing Director, Grace Byas, Victor Byas Sr., President Pat Nunnelee, Vice-Pesident Lisa Nunnelee-Talbot and Teresa Snow.
Photo: Recardo Thomas
Tupelo-based Allied Funeral Associates Insurance Company held its first local district sales meeting in Indianola on Thursday.
Assistant Vice-President Victor Byas said the 22-year-old company plans to open a district office here to service the agents and funeral homes in the Delta.
“It’s an industrial insurance company (that) provides funeral insurance, sold through funeral homes to cover funeral expenses for your loved ones,” Byas said.
He added that his group of funeral homes is one of the primary agents for the insurance company and in addition he and his son, Wellington, serve on the board of directors and his son Victor II is the marketing assistant. Additionally, the Byas trio are licensed insurance salespersons and stockholders in the Allied company.
Byas said he has been in the insurance business a long time and their policies cover funeral expenses only. He added that at least 65 percent of his clients are covered by the insurance policies they sell. “That’s why they have decent funerals because they are prepared,” he said.
Pat Nunnelee, president and founder of Allied said he has been in the insurance business for nearly 60 years. He started Allied Funeral Associates in 1996 and issued their first policy in 1997.
The new district office is expected to be open some time in November. Victor Sr., said it will be located in their facility on Front Street Ext., but the operations center will be housed on Allen Road, east of U.S. 49 in the former Byas Transportation building.
