Exhibit (16)(b)


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         I, Geoffrey A. von Kuhn, Trustee of AmSouth Funds (the "Fund"), hereby
constitute and appoint Clifford J. Alexander and Kathy Kresch Ingber, and each
of them singly, with full power to act without the other, my true and lawful
attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and
re-substitution, to sign for me, in my name and in my capacity as Trustee of the
Fund, the registration statements of the Fund on Form N-14, and any amendments
to such registration statements, and all instruments necessary or desirable in
connection therewith, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other
documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power
and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their
or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by
virtue hereof.

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
this instrument has been signed below by the undersigned in the capacity and on
the date indicated.



June 26, 2002                             /s/ Geoffrey A. von Kuhn
                                          ---------------------------
                                          Geoffrey A. von Kuhn
                                          Trustee