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.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Voice of Grace Ministries, 1221 Orange St., Vidalia, GA 30474.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
. Stephens became one of the first members of the United Way's Million Dollar Roundtable of top contributors and he established the Alabama Percent Club, which honors businesses that give 10 percent, 5 percent or 2 percent of pre-tax income to charity. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. 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. ELTON STEPHENS OBITUARY. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. The kidnapper of Birmingham businessman Elton B. Stephens Jr. has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison. [2] He donated $15 million to the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, where he was chairman of its board of trustees, and where the Alys Robinson Stephens Performing Arts Center was named after his late wife. In addition to a lifetime of business and financial endeavors, Elton has committed his life to enrich the world around him. Its core industries include subscription services to libraries, bibliographic databases, manufacturing of construction and outdoors products, and real estate development. The Remlap pair remains behind bars on no bond. 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. In Birmingham his name is perhaps most commonly associated with Barber Motor Sports Park and Museum, home to the world's largest collection of motorcycles, to which he has contributed tens of millions of dollars. The Birmingham Police Department is investigating the accident. Elton Stephens believes anyone can successfully sell anything. The family was worth roughly $4 billion in 2014 and previously ranked 66th on Forbes list of America . Stephens told Burke he was scaring him and asked Burke how much money it would take to leave him alone. 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 . There is almost certainly more to this story. Marshals are now searching for Burke after they became aware Monday that Burke was no longer in custody, U.S. Sheriffs Sgt. The suspect asked Stephens, What are you doing my house? which startled and confused Stephens. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Authorities went there on Saturday, Sept. 12, and both Burke and Hodges were there. Evans-Skipper Funeral Home - Donalsonville. Birmingham and Mountain Brook police, as well as the FBI and the U.S. Secret Service, responded. Determining the richest person in the state is simply not an exact science. Vernon where he lived until moving to . All rights reserved (About Us). Soon after, along came an EBSCO publishing and bindery company to help keep the racks full of reading matter, and later a printing plant. - 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. NEW! He was released only after he wired $250,000 to a bank account of the alleged kidnappers. 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. Elton Stephens's passing at the age of 71 on Thursday, January 21, 2021 has been publicly announced by Ronald V. Hall Funeral Home in Vidalia, GA .Legacy invites you to offer condolences and share mem He is preceded in death by his wife of 52 years, Alys Varian Robinson Stephens, who died on the same day, 1996, and by his five . Unlock the mysteries of your family history and explore the rich tapestry of your past with AncientFaces. After they left, he went to a friends home to call police. Your email will not be used for any other purpose. Advertisement. 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. 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 . [1] His son James serves as the chairman of EBSCO Industries. Hodges two children ages 11 and 13 were with Hodges and Burke throughout the entire ordeal. [2], With his son James, Stephens donated $2.5 million to the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Support worthwhile projects including but not limited to education, health, religion, needy, cultural arts, boys/girls clubs, law enforcement, conservation, nature, water resources. They were in the house for hours taking one of Stephens sports cars for a joy ride and making food in the kitchen before waking Stephens about 8:30 a.m. Matthew Amos Burke (Jefferson County Jail). Elton and Jim also contributed $15 million towards the $26 million Elton B. Stephens Science Center at Birmingham-Southern. Last Known Residence . Recommend Elton's obituary to your friends. 21 death records. Elton's immediate relatives including parents, siblings, partnerships and children in the Stephens family tree. Refresh this page to see various historical events that occurred during Elton's lifetime. can stop at any time. 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. North America. Elton B Stephens Elton Stephens (1911 - 2005) Jump to: Biography Memories . Family and friends are coming together online to create a special keepsake. Biography ID: 59996224 . From The Tribune staff reports. BY ANCESTRY.COM. On the way to Remlap, the group stopped at a Full Moon Bar-B-Que drive-thru to get lunch. memorial page for John Thomas Elton Stephens (26 Jun 1912-24 Nov 1966), Find a Grave Memorial ID 141627531, citing Worthy Cemetery, . Share. Both issued guilty pleas in the federal case to kidnapping and bank fraud charges. After waking Stephens, Burke asked the victim how much money he had and if he had any real estate holdings, according to the plea agreement. A small-town boy, 11 Elton quickly learned the value of money. Burke was sentenced to 17 years, and Hodges to 12 years, in the federal penitentiary system. BIRMINGHAM Two people from Remlap are being held in the Jefferson County Jail on no bond following the kidnapping and ransom demand of Elton B. Stephens, Jr. "When I was four, I had pneumonia, and I remember my father often standing over my crib and entertaining . Later questioned by authorities as to how she came up with that amount, Hodges replied, it sounded like a big number.. When 2 or more people share their unique perspectives, Mr. Elton L. "Tebo" Stephens, 89, of Wadesboro, NC, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, March 3, 2019. in memory of Elton Stephens, please visit our floral store. Did Elton serve in the military or did a war or conflict interfere with his life? Send Flowers. 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. "EBSCO and the members of the family have been integral to the growth of the museum.". 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. 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. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to First United Methodist Church, 118 E. Morgan St., Wadesboro, NC 28170. and you'll be alerted when others do the same. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Investigators were able to track down the suspects by obtaining GPS location information that was on Stephens phone. 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. 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. [7] They had two sons, Elton B. Stephens Jr. and James T. Stephens, and two daughters, Jane S. Comer and Dell S. He was the son of James Nelson and Clara Stuckey Stephens. a In 1998, Barber sold the dairy company--which had sales of more than $200 million per year at the time--to Dean Foods Company, and he has since turned his focustothe motorcycle museum and other pursuits. U.S. [5] His wife died in 1996. Share memories and family stories, photos, or ask questions. The Bureau had approximately 650 employees, including 441 Special Agents. Enter I get the chance to remember the Share yesterday to connect today & preserve tomorrow, Copyright 1999-2023 AncientFaces, Inc. All Rights Reserved, ADVERTISEMENT If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. That company now sells coal in over 30 countries and had $621 million in sales last year, according to Hoover's. ( al.com) Citing a "veiled threat" from a "white conservative group . All rights reserved (About Us). Marston graduated from Bossier High School and joined the United States ARMY. Stephens, and his son-in-law, F. Dixon Brooke, married to Stephens' daughter, Dell, both went on to lead EBSCO and have followed him in philanthropy through scholarships, charitable campaigns and support of the arts. Stephens told Burke he was scaring him and asked Burke how much money it would take to leave him alone. Worthy Cemetery. On the way to Remlap, the group stopped at a Full Moon Bar-B-Que drive-thru to get lunch. On July 1, Brooke retired as CEO of EBSCO Industries, replaced by Tim Collins, the former president of EBSCO Information Services. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved. Elton was a truck driver and worked with Southeastern Paper in Vidalia until his recent retirement. A graveside service will be at 11:00 am, Friday, March 8, 2019 at Hillcrest Cemetery, Lake Waccamaw, NC with Rev. At one point, earlier testimony showed, Burke told Stephens if he did anything to make Hodges feel uncomfortable, it wont end well for you.. He was born on June 21, 1934 in Minster, Ohio to the late Frank & Rose (Jacobs) Meiring. Hodges was sentenced to 12 years in prison. Region. [2][4][5] The company sold magazine subscriptions to the United States Army. Summers were spent working for Butterick, selling subscriptions to that once-famous dress pattern makers magazine, and in 1930 Elton and five friends hitchhiked north to Michigan to sell subscriptions door-to-door all day. We would like to offer our sincere support to anyone coping with grief. The family, which inherited Stephens's wealth after his death in 2005, has never before discussed its finances with the media. His wife died in 1996. Sadly, Williams was pronounced dead at the scene. Matthew Amos Burke, 35, was being . In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Voice of Grace Ministries, 1221 Orange St., Vidalia, GA 30474. we begin to Show & Tell who they were during particular moments in their lives. After graduating from law school, Elton found that he could earn only $75 a month as a lawyer while selling magazines would bring in some $100 a week. Who were the people in Elton's life? Once the money was deposited, the suspects drove Stephens back to his rental house. That led them to the location where Stephens had been taken. With the Tuesday death of Marguerite "Wita" Jones Harbert, Alabama lost its wealthiest resident and only billionaire, according to the 2014 Forbes list of people with billions of dollars to their names. 2017-2023 Tribute Archive. He was a member and deacon of Voice of GraceMinistries in Vidalia. View Elton L. Tebo Stephens's obituary, send flowers and find service dates or sign the guestbook. With headquarters still in Birmingham, EBSCO sells its products throughout the United States and has operations in more than 30 states and almost 20 foreign countries, including Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Korea, South Africa, Taiwan, France, Greece, Canada, and Turkey. Elton R Stephens Elton Stephens (1933 - 2006) Jump to: . Burke and his girlfriend, Tabatha Hodges, both pleaded guilty to federal charges of kidnapping and bank fraud. He was born in Birmingham, Alabama and is a graduate of Yale University and the Harvard Business School. 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 transition marks the first time EBSCO has not been led by a member of the Stephens family. Elton Stephens Elton Stephens (1913 - 1984) Jump to: Biography Memories . ", The map above shows some of the various connections to the Stephens family in the Birmingham area. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. You have to stay with it, learn from mistakes, know what youre doing and youll succeed.. Mr. Elton Stephens, age 71, of Tarrytown, died Thursday, January 21, 2021, in Meadows Health in Vidalia after an briefillness. Elton's Obituary . 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. According to previous testimony and court records, the suspects entered Stephens Crest Road rental home about 2 a.m. 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. After they left, he went to a friends home to call police. His aggressive selling techniques translated well in the banking arena, and a decade later the banks assets had more than doubled, to $46 million, leading Elton to form the company known as Alabama Bancorp. At one point, earlier testimony showed, Burke told Stephens if he did anything to make Hodges feel uncomfortable, it wont end well for you.. According to previous testimony and court records, the suspects entered Stephens Crest Road rental home about 2 a.m. When I was four, I had pneumonia, and I remember my father often standing over my crib and entertaining me, Elton once recalled fondly. Vernon, and was a 1968 graduate of Montgomery County High School. Stephens, then 75, was abducted in the morning hours of Sept. 11, 2020, Roughly two hours of the abduction were recorded on Stephens sleep apnea app, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. U.S., Newspapers.com Obituary Index, 1800s-current. Elton Bryson Stephens Sr. (19112005) was an American businessman from Alabama, who founded EBSCO Industries. Online condolences may be made at www.leavittfh.com. Messages run for up to one year and you 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. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Those who knew him believe his philanthropy was driven by his own struggles growing up in Clio in Barbour County and living through the Great Depression. was abducted in the morning hours of Sept. 11, 2020, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. According to court documents, Burke and Hodges abducted Stephens with the . Marshals placed a detainer on him in late November, which means once Burke was finished with state charges, he should be released into their custody. . In 1937 he obtained a franchise with Keystone Readers Service, a middleman between subscribers and publishers of such magazines as the Saturday Evening Post and Ladies Home Journal. The U.S. Marshal Marty Keely said on Monday. "Neither EBSCO or our family is worth anywhere near Forbes' estimate. As EBSCO grew into a worldwide empire, Elton was very clear about his goals. Did Elton finish grade school, get a GED, go to high school, get a college degree or masters? Elton Stephens died at age 70 years old on January 8, 1997. 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. According to law enforcement, Burke and Tabatha Nicole Hodges, 22, broke into a house Stephens was staying at in Jefferson County as he slept on September . Spina said he is confident Marshals or other law enforcement agencies will apprehend Burke if he does not surrender. 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. Stephens was born on August 4, 1911, in Clio, Alabama. And so it went through the years, one thing leading to another. Fred Senter officiating. What Elton did fall for was a love of business. Basing his operation in Birmingham, Alabama, Elton soon had salesmen hawking titles all over the Southeast, including as World War II began at nearby Fort McClellan. Find Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and TikTok profiles, images and more on IDCrawl - free people search website. He has been involved with the Southern Research Institute, Waste Water Facilities Development Committee, Y.M.C.A., American Council of the Arts, United Arts Fund, Birmingham Area Chamber of Commerce, United Way, Methodist Hospitals, American Cancer Society, Alabama Development Office, and most especially the Alabama Symphony Orchestra. Following their arrest, Matthew Amos Burke, 34, and Tabatha Nicole Hodges, 33, were charged with burglary and kidnapping an adult -- the businessman Elton B. Stephens Jr., 75 -- for ransom, extortion and theft of property. Another potential candidate for the title of richest Alabama resident is Garry Neil Drummond, one of seven original heirs to the Drummond Co. fortune left behind by Heman Drummond when he died in 1956. Share highlights of Elton's life. The city and state honored Stephens' support of civic projects by renaming the Red Mountain Expressway the "Elton B. Stephens Expressway. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Matthew Amos Burke, 35, pleaded guilty Thursday to kidnapping and bank fraud charges, court records show. He was charged with obstruction of justice, failure to uphold laws, and the refusal to produce material subpoenaed by the committee. Every memory left on the online obituary will be automatically included in the book. Share what Elton did for a living or if he had a career or profession. Our History. He was a member and deacon of Voice of GraceMinistries in Vidalia. Williams, 34, was hit at about 2:28 a.m. after exiting her disabled vehicle on the Elton B. Stephens Expressway. To the present, it is the symbol of the City that is known throughout the world. Born . He was released only after he wired $250,000 to a bank account of the alleged kidnappers. "I was just obsessed with bicycles and motorcycles and cars." In short, he was all about anything with wheels. Burke is charged with kidnapping Elton Stephens Jr., the son of EBSCO Industries founder Elton Stephens Sr. Burke is scheduled for sentencing Nov. 2, where he faces up to 17 years in prison. 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. Tabatha Nicole Hodges, 33, was sentenced Thursday to . Elton B. Stephens Scholarship Hannah Combs; Elton B. Stephens Scholarship Aundria Kurowski; Stephens died on February 5, 2005. 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. Born in Barbour County, Alabama in 1911, Elton B. Stephens was instrumental in the rebirth of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra. That led them to the location where Stephens had been taken. Roughly two hours of the abduction were recorded on Stephens sleep apnea app. Burke was transferred to the Jefferson County Jail from a neighboring agency which was holding Burke for the feds Nov. 24 to attend court. James Lewis Stephens. 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. Burkes co-defendant, Tabatha Nicole Hodges, is set to have a change of plea hearing on Aug. 31. Stephens was taken to the suspects home in Remlap and held against his will for eight hours. The heiress of Birmingham-based Harbert Corporation magnate John Murdoch Harbert III, her husband of 43 years who died in 1995, Harbert left her brood a massive inheritance. 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. On file we have 26 email addresses and 49 phone numbers associated with Elton in area codes such as 205, 704, 605, 850, 202, and 12 other area codes. Controlled Demolition, Inc. (CDI) of Phoenix, Maryland, USA (acting as Explosives Subcontractor to Main Demolition Contractor, Lindamood Demolition of Irving. James Lewis Stephens, 72, of Sallisaw, passed away Saturday, March 5, 2022, in Sallisaw. 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. Roughly two hours of the abduction were recorded on Stephens sleep apnea app. 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 suspect asked Stephens, What are you doing my house? which startled and confused Stephens. 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. Investigators were able to track down the suspects by obtaining GPS location information that was on Stephens phone. Mr. Elton Stephens, age 71, of Tarrytown, died Thursday, January 21, 2021, in Meadows Health in Vidalia after an briefillness. They were in the house for hours taking one of Stephens sports cars for a joy ride and making food in the kitchen before waking Stephens about 8:30 a.m. View the profiles of people named Elton B. Stephens. 909 South Tennille Ave. Donalsonville, GA. ELTON STEPHENS OBITUARY . Surviving is a son, Charles Garry (Barbara) Stephens of Fuquay Varina, NC; grandson, James Edward (Madison Pace fianc) Stephens of Fuquay Varina, NC; a nephew, Albert M. (Carol) Kennedy of Schwenksville, PA; and a niece, Cecilia Kennedy (Donald) Mayall of Pennsburg, PA. Elton Jr. has always been kind of the black sheep of the family and was not heavily involved in the family business. Driven by his love of a challenge and his passion for classical music, In a report published in 2014 by Forbes, the Stephens family was listed as one of the richest families in the country with an estimated net worth of $4 billion.. Burke and Hodges were arrested a few days later and charged with kidnapping.