About us
J. Mark Bowery Insurance traces its roots back to 1948, when founder Sam Bray opened the family-owned Sam Bray Insurance Agency in downtown Kingsport, Tennessee. Our history is deeply connected to the community and to generations of family involvement. Wendy Bowery, Sam Bray's granddaughter, began helping at the agency at just 13 years old, working after school and on weekends. She became licensed in 1980, joined the agency full time, and has been an integral part of our story ever since.
In March 1992, Mark and Wendy Bowery, both Kingsport natives, purchased the VFIS Book of Business and established J. Mark Bowery Insurance. We built our agency around serving the insurance needs of volunteer fire departments, rescue organizations, and EMS providers throughout Tennessee and Virginia. Today, Mark continues to represent VFIS and Correll Insurance Group as the VFIS Regional Director for East Tennessee and Southwest and Central Virginia, a territory he has served for more than three decades.
After more than 30 years of growth, we became a division of Correll Insurance Group in January 2020. We remain focused on providing insurance solutions for firefighters, first responders, and emergency service organizations while continuing to build on the relationships and values that have guided us from the beginning.
In 2022, Michelle Wheeler joined our team and launched Bowery Insurance Services, expanding our ability to serve the community with personal and commercial insurance solutions.
While many family-owned businesses face challenges transitioning from one generation to the next, we are proud to continue our legacy with team members representing the third and fourth generations. Our commitment to service, community involvement, and long-term relationships remains at the heart of everything we do.
Personal and Commercial Lines insurance professionals
Ask me about these types of insurance...
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Request a homeowners insurance quoteOur independent insurance agents are here to help you find the best life insurance that will take care of those you leave behind.
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Request a annuities quoteRestaurant insurance is a combo platter of coverage that protects your customers, employees, property and inventory.
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Why choose J. Mark Bowery Insurance
States we serve
- Tennessee
- Virginia
Our insurance coverages
Personal insurance coverage
- Automobile
- Condo
- Home
- Renters
Business insurance coverage
- Business Owners Package (BOP)
- Business Vehicle
- General Liability
- Property
Life & Annuities coverage
- Annuities
- Life
Industries we serve
- Accommodation and Food Services
- Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services
- Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting
- Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation
- Construction
- Educational Services
- Finance and Insurance
- Health Care and Social Assistance
- Information
- Management of Companies and Enterprises
- Manufacturing - Food / Beverage / Textiles / Apparel / Leather
- Manufacturing - Metal / Machinery / Computer / Electrical / Transportation / Furniture
- Manufacturing - Wood / Paper / Paper / Mining / Plastics
- Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction
- Other Services (except Public Administration)
- Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- Public Administration
- Real Estate and Rental and Leasing
- Retail - Sporting Goods / Hobby / Music / General / Misc.
- Retail - Vehicle / Home / Furniture / Building / Garden / Food / Health / Gas / Clothing
- Transportation - Air / Rail / Water / Truck / Transit / Ground / Pipeline / Scenic
- Transportation and Warehousing
- Utilities
- Wholesale Trade
