Lord & Stephens loves how the Funeral Planning Center became an extension of their firm

Nestled in the close-knit community of Athens, GA, Lord and Stephens Funeral Homes was founded because owner Tom Lord believed an independent, locally owned funeral home could provide families with the highest quality service.

“Tom is the kind of guy who is always there, setting the example for how to serve and care for families,” Advance Planning Specialist Ray Finger says. “He believes we can serve families from the very first time we meet them, years before they even have a service.”

Preneed was instrumental in helping Lord and Stephens build these relationships with the families surrounding their three locations. As a former minister, Ray thrived when he could sit down with folks and learn their stories before helping them make wise decisions.

I was never able to gain momentum or reach the full potential of the position because I was spending so much time on the phone Ray Finger Advance Planning Specialist | Lord and Stephens Funeral Homes

But following up with leads took time. “I was never able to gain momentum or reach the full potential of the position because I was spending so much time on the phone,” Ray admits.

How Precoa Helped

When Tom first learned about Precoa, both he and Ray shared concerns about partnering with a larger company. Yet their expectations quickly changed. “Trust me when I say I did my research,” Tom says, “and I was impressed by what I read, and even more impressed when I talked to other firms. I got absolutely zero negative comments.”

Especially key was the follow-up support through Precoa’s Funeral Planning Center, which established a meaningful rapport with families, setting them at ease about a subject many find challenging.

Complete Support

“Now I don’t see how we could do without it,” Tom says. “The support they provide behind the scenes is amazing. We could not hire anyone on our staff to do what the FPC does. It’s just an extension of our firm, and that’s what we want.”

The support they provide behind the scenes is amazing. We could not hire anyone on our staff to do what the FPC does. It’s just an extension of our firm, and that’s what we want. Tom Lord Lord and Stephens Funeral Homes

The FPC also connects Lord and Stephens to an array of additional support, including the most efficient lead generation sources. “Precoa has given me every tool necessary to serve families,” Ray says.

And this has led to extraordinary growth. “Precoa takes a lot off of our shoulders,” Tom says. “We’ve grown so much in the last three years, and I know that what they’re doing, they’re doing right.”