On the way to Remlap, the group stopped at a Full Moon Bar-B-Que drive-thru to get lunch. Death . She was the first wife of Alabama governor George Wallace, whom she succeeded as governor because the Alabama constitution forbade consecutive terms. (Click on the pins for more information.). Roughly two hours of the abduction were recorded on Stephens sleep apnea app. He was a member and deacon of Voice of GraceMinistries in Vidalia. Share profits and protect the welfare and health of employees with a major catastrophic medical program. Previous state court testimony indicated Stephens whose family was ranked by Forbes magazine in 2014 as the 66th wealthiest in America - did not know his abductors. "Neither EBSCO or our family is worth anywhere near Forbes' estimate. a And I found it odd that he has retained Spina, the criminal defense attorney quoted in . Worthy Cemetery. Taking 5 years to build, the 4,200-foot-long suspension bridge was an engineering marvel of its time - 11 men died during construction. Burkes co-defendant, Tabatha Nicole Hodges, is set to have a change of plea hearing on Aug. 31. STEPHENS Lionel H. Stephens, a retired educator and computer analyst, died Friday, July 27, 2012 at the age of 76 in Baton Rouge, LA. He left nearly all of his sizeable fortune and much of his property to a foundation bearing his name, to be overseen by his children. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. He served four years in the U.S. Army and returned to Mt. That went so well he branched out to other military bases and was able to save to start his own business. Determining the richest person in the state is simply not an exact science. [1][2] Stephens graduated from Birmingham-Southern College in 1932. Once at the suspects home, Stephens called his banker, a call which was recorded, and asked him to wire $250,000 to Hodges bank account. He served four years in the U.S. Army and returned to Mt. Later questioned by authorities as to how she came up with that amount, Hodges replied, it sounded like a big number.. The editor has been contacted for making a correction to their data.". [2] Additionally, he donated $1 million to the United Way of Central Alabama in 1997, joining their Million Dollar Roundtable. 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. The man convicted federally of kidnapping Birmingham businessman Elton B. Stephens was released from the Jefferson County Jail because his state charges had been dismissed and jail officials had . Founder and chairman of the board of EBSCO Industries, Inc., Elton Bryson Stephens was born August 4, 1911, to parents Clara Stuckey and James Nelson Stephens in Clio, Alabama. We have no idea how Forbes could have so wrongly made this estimate. We would like to offer our sincere support to anyone coping with grief. Roughly two hours of the abduction were recorded on Stephens sleep apnea app. He was born on October 24, 1926 in Hall Summit, Louisiana to the late Roy Henry and Tommie Lee Fletcher Stephens. 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. Hodges was sentenced to 12 years in prison. Hodges two children ages 11 and 13 were with Hodges and Burke throughout the entire ordeal. Marshals are now searching for Burke after they became aware Monday that Burke was no longer in custody, U.S. According to previous testimony and court records, the suspects entered Stephens Crest Road rental home about 2 a.m. Born in Barbour County, Alabama in 1911, Elton B. Stephens was instrumental in the rebirth of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Elton Bryson Stephens Sr. (19112005) was an American businessman from Alabama, who founded EBSCO Industries. [5], Alys Robinson Stephens Performing Arts Center, In Memoriam: Elton Bryson Stephens, 1911-2005, Stephens family may be better known in Birmingham for generosity than $4 billion wealth, "EBSCO: Building a Family Conglomerate on Values and Capital | The Family Business Consulting Group", America's Richest Families: Stephens family. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. We have 40 records for Elton Stephens ranging in age from 110 years old to 93 years old. Looking for Elton Stephens online? 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. He was released only after he wired $250,000 to a bank account of the alleged kidnappers. Brooke joined EBSCO in. Elton's Obituary . Elton Earl Stephens. On December 14th, he succeeded. To cover the rest of his costs, the enterprising young man worked full-time as a salesman in a local dry goods store. Last Known Residence . Read more about the life story of Elton and share your memory. 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. Outstanding Student in Biomedical Equipment Technology - Justin Hollis . There is no early parole in federal court. Survivors include his wife, Kathy Stephens of Tarrytown; two sisters, Claudette Stephens Drury and husband Kenneth of Fernandina Beach, Florida, and Jessie Cook and husband Kenneth of Kilgore, Texas; one brother, William Stephens of Gwinnett County; and several nieces and nephews. Sentencing is set for Nov. 2 before U.S. District Judge Abdul Kallon. Vernon where he lived until . At one point, earlier testimony showed, Burke told Stephens if he did anything to make Hodges feel uncomfortable, it wont end well for you.. Elton B. Stephens Jr. remembers begging his father to build him a go-cart. 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. Though the Stephens family's denying the $4 billion figure leaves major questions unanswered, the Stephenses are clearly some of the wealthiest people in the state, and they should be on any shortlist of potential heirs to Harbert's title. In 1995, by the time he was 84 years old, on May 19th, the deadliest terrorist attack on American soil - before 9/11 - took place in Oklahoma City. Region. we begin to Show & Tell who they were during particular moments in their lives. 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. Obituary. The gift included $1 million for an endowed fund for the UA libraries; $900,000 for an endowed fund in the School of Libraries and Information Studies; $400,000 to the College of Commerce and Business Administration for sales, sales management and marketing scholarships; and $200,000 to support the UA-based Alabama Museum of Natural History. I get the chance to remember the Share yesterday to connect today & preserve tomorrow, Copyright 1999-2023 AncientFaces, Inc. All Rights Reserved, ADVERTISEMENT LIONEL STEPHENS OBITUARY. He is currently safe, and two suspects are in custody. 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. The man convicted federally of kidnapping Birmingham businessman Elton B. Stephens was released from the Jefferson County Jail because his state charges had been dismissed and jail officials had no paperwork indicating he was to remain held on a federal conviction, sheriffs officials said Tuesday. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Join Facebook to connect with Elton B. Stephens and others you may know. She also initially said that the kidnapping was all her idea, not her boyfriends, but later said that was a lie. STEPHENS, ELTON BRYSON, was born August 4, 1911, and died February 5, 2005. The active involvement of the Stephens' family has contributed to the growth of EBSCO. Once at the suspects home, Stephens called his banker, a call which was recorded, and asked him to wire $250,000 to Hodges bank account. He kept asking me why didnt I want it, but I didnt fall for that one.. Keely on Tuesday, however, said the U.S. Joni Money said sheriffs officials are investigating the circumstances surrounding Burkes release but said they did not have any documentation that Burke was to remain in custody. Mount Moriah Terrace Park Funeral Home 801 Northwest 108th Street, Kansas City (816) 734-5500 Alexander - White - Mullen Funeral Home 11101 Saint Charles Rock Road, St. Ann (314) 739-1133 Debo Funeral Home 833 Court Street, Fulton (573) 642-2211 Nunnelee Funeral Chapel 205 North Stoddard, Sikeston (573) 471-2242 A small-town boy, 11 Elton quickly learned the value of money. When we share what we know, together we discover more. A small-town boy, 11 Elton quickly learned the value of money. He was born July 22, 1949, in Fort Smith, Ark., to Oscar Louis Stephens and Patsy . 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. There are no events scheduled. When you share, or just show that you care, the heart Birmingham and Mountain Brook police, as well as the FBI and the U.S. Secret Service, responded. Authorities went there on Saturday, Sept. 12, and both Burke and Hodges were there. In 1911, in the year that Elton B Stephens was born, Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen became the first man to reach the South Pole, along with four fellow Norwegian explorers. Add Elton's family friends, and his friends from childhood through adulthood. It was Elton and Jim who initiated EBSCO's $2.5 million contribution to the University of Alabama's capital campaign in 1995. That led them to the location where Stephens had been taken. Biography ID: 59996224 . 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. "[2], Stephens established the Metropolitan Arts Council of Birmingham in 1986. BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) Two people are behind bars after allegedly kidnapping Birmingham businessman and philanthropist Elton B. Stephens Jr. and forcing him to wire hundreds of thousands of dollars to them after stealing his vehicle, multiple guns, and jewelry last week. The Stephens other daughter is Jane Comer, who was honored in 2002 for her own support of the arts. Who were the people in Elton's life? Help paint a picture of Elton so that he is always remembered. Elton Jr. has always been kind of the black sheep of the family and was not heavily involved in the family business. In addition to a lifetime of business and financial endeavors, Elton has committed his life to enrich the world around him. Baker McCullough Funeral Home Danyse G. Edel He was a loving husband and a faithful friend. Messages run for up to one year and you The museum has a Stephens Family Gallery. 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. 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. 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. Summary Elton Stephens of Coeur d'Alene, Kootenai County, Idaho was born on November 13, 1892, and died at age 83 years old in February 1976. . becomes full 44 birth, 21 death, 3 marriage, 327 divorce, View It was Eltons frustration with borrowing money early in his business career that led him in 1981, at the age of 70, to begin a second career as a financier. Elton Stephens Elton Stephens (1913 - 1984) Jump to: Biography Memories . You can still show your support by sending flowers directly to the family, 2023 McKenzie Mortuary. Procha Patrice Williams was tragically struck and killed by a vehicle on Jan. 8 in Birmingham. Elton B. Stephens is among four artists who will be inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame during its induction banquet Saturday at the Marriott Shoals Conference Center in Florence. Elton has been found in 13 states including Alabama, North Carolina, Florida, Texas, Utah. According to previous testimony and court records, the suspects entered Stephens Crest Road rental home about 2 a.m. 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. Another Alabamian who has not been identified as a billionaire by Forbes -- long considered the leading authority on the topic -- is George Barber. At one point, Stephens tried to jump out of the vehicle, but Burke pulled him back in by his shirt. 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. Elton B. Stephens Jr., whose father founded EBSCO Industries in 1944, was kidnapped at 7 a.m. on Sept. 11 from a rental home in Birmingham, where police said a pair of suspects, Matthew Amos Burke . 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. "The Stephens family is so incredibly generous and supportive of the community in so many ways," Gail Andrews, the R. Hugh Daniel director of the Birmingham Museum of Art, said. Then there was the need for military recreational equipment and furnishings for the officers clubs, so EBSCO eventually found itself handling carpeting and drapery, with a plant in Georgia, and managing military entertainment, with the purchase of National Billiard, Americas oldest pool table company. 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