The suspect asked Stephens, What are you doing my house? which startled and confused Stephens. TheAlabama State Council on the Arts presented Stephens with its Jonnie Dee Little Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999 in recognition of his financial contributions in support of the arts. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Stephens family member is 71. Who is Elton Stephens to you? In fact, there are several potential billionaire Alabama residents, and because details about their private finances are not publicly available, it is next to impossible to verify just how much money they have. Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama 35201. Share memories and family stories, photos, or ask questions. There will be a service to celebrate his life at 2:00 pm, Thursday, March 7, 2019 at the First United Methodist Church, Wadesboro with the Rev. Elton Stephens . Authorities went there on Saturday, Sept. 12, and both Burke and Hodges were there. a 94, February 25, 2023, Baker McCullough Funeral Home. At one point, Stephens tried to jump out of the vehicle, but Burke pulled him back in by his shirt. He enjoyed fishing, camping, woodworkingand tinkering. Lurleen Burns Wallace (born Lurleen Brigham Burns; September 19, 1926 - May 7, 1968) was the 46th governor of Alabama for 15 months from January 1967 until her death. The family will greet friends prior to the service from 12:45 pm until 1:45 pm at the church. Elton "Sonny" Meiring, age 88 of Celina, Ohio, formerly of Minster, died at 7:29 PM on Tuesday, February 7, 2023 at Joint Township District Memorial Hospital, St. Marys, Ohio. "[2], Stephens established the Metropolitan Arts Council of Birmingham in 1986. Tabatha Nicole Hodges, 33, was sentenced Thursday to 12 years for her part in the 2020 abduction of Stephens. BIRMINGHAM, AlabamaForbes may have singled out Birmingham's Stephens family as the state's richest clan with an estimated net worth of $4 billion, but those who live in the Magic City likely know Stephenses better for the things they've done with that wealth. Baker McCullough Funeral Home Danyse G. Edel Liberty County. The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office is asking for help finding 35-year-old Matthew Amos Burke. On Friday, Dec. 10, he was accidently released from the Jefferson County Jail after state charges were dismissed. Looking for Elton Stephens online? [1] His son James serves as the chairman of EBSCO Industries. 44 birth records, View Our primary concern is, of course, the safety of Mr. Stephens and his family, Spina said. As listed in Whos Who, they encompass both the capitalistic and altruistic aspects of his personality: Invest/reinvest earnings to create employment/profits for growth/expansion. Because private wealth is not a matter of public record, there's no telling if a sleeper billionaire is holed up somewhere in a rural Alabama cabin, or perhaps even sitting at the helm of one of the state's other successful companies. In 1995, he was approached by board members and asked to help re-establish the bankrupt ASO. Biography ID: 59996224 . YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Your email will not be used for any other purpose. Tabatha Nicole Hodges (Jefferson County Jail). Burke replied, Forever or just for today?, At one point, records state, Burke asked Stephens, How much life do you think you have left? Stephens replied, 10 years., Burke then said, I think you got 20 more, I think you do. was released from the Jefferson County Jail, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. Elton B Stephens of Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama was born on August 4, 1911, and died at age 93 years old on February 5, 2005. On December 14th, he succeeded. Stephens is the son of Elton B. Stephens, Sr., who started EBSCO Industries in the 1940s and became one of the most successful businessmen in Alabama history. Stephens is the son of Elton B. Stephens, founder of EBSCO Industries, one of the largest privately-owned companies in America. When I was four, I had pneumonia, and I remember my father often standing over my crib and entertaining me, Elton once recalled fondly. There is no early parole. The deadliest incident of domestic terrorism ever, Timothy McVeigh, Terry Nichols, and Michael Fortier were convicted of the bombing. That led them to the location where Stephens had been taken. Evans-Skipper Funeral Home - Donalsonville. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Another decade and another career success later Elton announced that he would sell Alabama Bancorp and all its associated holdings, worth some $280 million, to Bancorp South. He was born on June 21, 1934 in Minster, Ohio to the late Frank & Rose (Jacobs) Meiring. Stephens, then 75, was abducted in the morning hours of Sept. 11, 2020, from a house he was renting from fellow businessman and philanthropist George Barber while he was waiting for his new house . Stephens was married to Alys Robinson. Share what Elton did for a living or if he had a career or profession. He was a native of Montgomery County, growing up in Mt. Elton's Obituary . Hodges two children ages 11 and 13 were with Hodges and Burke throughout the entire ordeal. The most disturbing images were of children - a daycare center was hit by the bomb. Send Flowers. A pair of kidnappers has been arrested after abducting a retired Alabama businessman and forcing him to pay a $250,000 ransom to gain his freedom, AL.com reports.. In addition to a lifetime of business and financial endeavors, Elton has committed his life to enrich the world around him. Elton has been found in 13 states including Alabama, North Carolina, Florida, Texas, Utah. Roughly two hours of the abduction were recorded on Stephens sleep apnea app. You have to stay with it, learn from mistakes, know what youre doing and youll succeed.. Sheriffs Sgt. Elton B. Stephens Scholarship Hannah Combs; Elton B. Stephens Scholarship Aundria Kurowski; Stephens, then 75, was abducted in the morning hours of Sept. 11, 2020, from a house he was renting from fellow businessman and philanthropist George Barber while he was waiting for his new house to be ready. A truck bomb went off outside the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown - killing 68 people, injuring more than 680 others, and destroying one-third of the building. But just who will be the benefactor of her fortune remains unknown beyond her inner circle, as her will is not yet available for public perusal at Jefferson County Probate Court. Driven by his love of a challenge and his passion for classical music, Brooke. Last Known Residence . So now that Harbert has passed away, there is no clear heir to the title of wealthiest Alabama resident. He served four years in the U.S. Army and returned to Mt. He was charged with obstruction of justice, failure to uphold laws, and the refusal to produce material subpoenaed by the committee. Williams, 34, was hit at about 2:28 a.m. after exiting her disabled vehicle on the Elton B. Stephens Expressway. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Find Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and TikTok profiles, images and more on IDCrawl - free people search website. Fred Senter officiating. Matthew Amos Burke, 35, pleaded guilty . - After four decades at Elton B. Stephens Co. (EBSCO), President and CEO F. Dixon Brooke Jr. announced his plans to retire at the end of this current fiscal year, June 30, 2014. The suspect asked Stephens, What are you doing my house? which startled and confused Stephens. Elton Stephens (1892 - 1976) Add photo. Hodges told investigators Stephens had given the items to them willingly, but court records stated that they said they would kill him if he called anyone. Elton B. Stephens, Jr., the retired CEO of EBSCO Industries, was reportedly kidnapped from his bed last Friday and held for ransom. Investigators were able to track down the suspects by obtaining GPS location information that was on Stephens phone. He was born July 22, 1949, in Fort Smith, Ark., to Oscar Louis Stephens and Patsy . [2] Additionally, he donated $1 million to the United Way of Central Alabama in 1997, joining their Million Dollar Roundtable. Select the pencil to add details. His success and wealth drove him to want to contribute to Birmingham and Alabama in ways that he felt would better the state, family and friends toldThe Birmingham News in a story about Stephens after his death. Two people have been arrested and are being held in the Jefferson County Jail without bond following the kidnapping and release of prominent retired businessman Elton B. Stephens Jr. "Elton . "EBSCO and the members of the family have been integral to the growth of the museum.". Stephens' father, Elton B. Stephens Sr., was the founder of the Birmingham-based EBSCO Industries, one of the largest privately-held companies in the United States. Heman Drummond first worked in a mine himself before cobbling together several hundred dollars and launching his own company in 1935. FUNERAL HOME. Updated: November 9, 2011 . The Biography piece is collaborative, where we work together to present the facts. BY ANCESTRY.COM. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to First United Methodist Church, 118 E. Morgan St., Wadesboro, NC 28170. He was born on October 24, 1926 in Hall Summit, Louisiana to the late Roy Henry and Tommie Lee Fletcher Stephens. Every memory left on the online obituary will be automatically included in the book. Elton has also never forgotten the importance of education, and in the mid-1990s funded the nations largest endowment for a chair of library sciences, at The University of Alabama. was abducted in the morning hours of Sept. 11, 2020, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. Elton China's passing at the age of 79 on Sunday, December 5, 2021 has been publicly announced by Stephens-Maree-Tracy Funeral Home in Walterboro, SC.Legacy invites you to offer condolences and share ELTON STEPHENS OBITUARY. Elton R Stephens Elton Stephens (1933 - 2006) Jump to: . Burke was sentenced to 17 years, and Hodges to 12 years, in the federal penitentiary system. Andrews said Elton and Alys Stephens helped establish some of the museum's best collections and all four of the Stephens children have continued to support the acquisition of new art. Recommend Elton's obituary to your friends. Stephens was taken to the suspects home in Remlap and held against his will for eight hours. Stephens at some point asked kidnappers what it would take for them to leave him alone and Hodges replied, $400,000. After they left, he went to a friends home to call police. All rights reserved (About Us). Hodges gave them consent to search the residence and thats when authorities found several guns, a Yeti cooler, a camera and cash that had been taken from Stephens home. Mr. Elton Stephens, age 71, of Tarrytown, died Thursday, January 21, 2021, in Meadows Health in Vidalia after an brief illness. Elton Stephens believes anyone can successfully sell anything. Matthew Amos Burke, 34, and Tabatha Nicole Hodges, 33, are charged with burglary, kidnapping an adult for ransom, extortion and theft of property. But the former racecar driver is also undoubtedly one of the richest residents of Alabama, having succeeded his father at the helm of Barber's Dairy. For the Stephens family, it all traces back to patriarch, the late Elton B. Stephens, and a $5,000 investment he made to start a business in 1944 along with his wife, Alys Robinson Stephens. Elton's immediate relatives including parents, siblings, partnerships and children in the Stephens family tree. That meant I didnt have to work as much during the school year, so I could study more. Study and concentrate on his college romance with Alys Varian Robinson, whom he dated for seven years before the two married. A small-town boy, 11 Elton quickly learned the value of money. Elton B. Stephens Jr. was kidnapped at around 7am on September 11 from a rental home in Birmingham, Alabama after two suspects broke into the man's house while he was asleep According to court documents, Burke and Hodges abducted Stephens with the . North America. He was a loving husband and a faithful friend. She also initially said that the kidnapping was all her idea, not her boyfriends, but later said that was a lie. To send flowers Where we share as we remember & make discoveries and connect with others to help answer questions. The museum has a Stephens Family Gallery. Read more about the life story of Elton and share your memory. EBSCO quickly expanded; Elton saw the need for magazine racks at Fort McClellan and other places and formed Vulcan Industries to make them. You can still show your support by sending flowers directly to the family, 2023 McKenzie Mortuary. But Stephens's son, current EBSCO board chairman James T. Stephens, told AL.com in an email statement Friday that the Forbes figure was "grossly overstated," though Forbes has not amended or withdrawn its report. The active involvement of the Stephens' family has contributed to the growth of EBSCO. Burke replied, Forever or just for today?, At one point, records state, Burke asked Stephens, How much life do you think you have left? Stephens replied, 10 years., Burke then said, I think you got 20 more, I think you do. Matthew Amos Burke, 35, was being . Later questioned by authorities as to how she came up with that amount, Hodges replied, it sounded like a big number.. You can take any business, any product, anything and sell it, he says. Taking 5 years to build, the 4,200-foot-long suspension bridge was an engineering marvel of its time - 11 men died during construction. If Garry Drummond truly is a billionaire, he would likely be the richest Alabamian, but he has not been identified as such by Forbes, and his personal finances, like those of other Alabama residents, are not available to the public. Garry Drummond, the controversial current CEO of Drummond and one of only two Drummond heirs still living as of July 2013, reportedly owned all of the capital stock in the massive coal company by then, Bloomberg reported, citing a report by business research outfit Dun & Bradstreet Corp. "If that's correct, Garry Neil is a billionaire," Bloomberg wrote. When you share, or just show that you care, the heart James Lewis Stephens, 72, of Sallisaw, passed away Saturday, March 5, 2022, in Sallisaw. All rights reserved (About Us). . In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Voice of Grace Ministries, 1221 Orange St., Vidalia, GA 30474. Burke went on to say, according to testimony, that he had bought the house two weeks before which was not true. Mr. Elton L. Tebo Stephens, 89, of Wadesboro, NC, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, March 3, 2019. "Virtually all of our personal assets are in our ownership of EBSCO of which we are proud and to which we are fully committed," the statement said. John Thomas Elton Stephens. Later questioned by authorities as to how she came up with that amount, Hodges replied, it sounded like a big number.. He was released only after he wired $250,000 to a bank account of the alleged kidnappers. A graveside service will be at 11:00 am, Friday, March 8, 2019 at Hillcrest Cemetery, Lake Waccamaw, NC with Rev. That marriage, which lasted until Alys Stephens death in 1996, took place in 1935, after Elton had graduated from Birmingham-Southern and before he completed his last year of law school at The University of Alabama. Named by Forbes as the 66th richest family in America, the Stephenses of Birmingham reportedly had a net worth of $4 billion as of last year. Good healthy years, being successful in whatever it is you may choose to do, after this, as long as you do it right.. He kept asking me why didnt I want it, but I didnt fall for that one.. He transitioned peacefully from this earthly life to eternal rest early Sunday morning, December 5, 2021, at the age of 79 at Prisma Health Tuomey Hospital in Sumter, South Carolina. He once tried to swap me a nickel for a dime saying it was bigger and had more value. Dr. Sarah B. Kalish officiating. Region. Mr. Elton Stephens, age 71, of Tarrytown, died Thursday, January 21, 2021, in Meadows Health in Vidalia after an briefillness. James Stephens is the Chairman of EBSCO Industries. LIONEL STEPHENS OBITUARY. Stephens gave $1 million to theUnited Way of Central Alabama in 1997, one of many large personal donations he made to the charitable group. While many of those contributions resulted in Stephens' name or names being attached to projects (theAlys Robinson Stephens Performing Arts Center atUAB or the Elton B. Stephens Science Center at Birmingham-Southern College) most were made without any such lasting recognition. There is no early parole in federal court. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Sentencing is set for Nov. 2 before U.S. District Judge Abdul Kallon. A 2014 report on the world's super-rich by the wealth research firm Wealth-X listed her fortune at $1.8 billion. One of the vehicles belonged to Stephens but the detective said the suspects made him sign a $10 bill of sale for his truck. Previous state court testimony indicated Stephens did not know his abductors. Burke and Hodges also are charged in state court, where their cases are awaiting grand jury action. Photos, memories, family stories & discoveries are unique to you, and only you can control. USA. Stephens was taken to the suspects home in Remlap and held against his will for eight hours. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 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