Dr. Sarah B. Kalish officiating. Photos, memories, family stories & discoveries are unique to you, and only you can control. Birmingham and Mountain Brook police, as well as the FBI and the U.S. Secret Service, responded. Support worthwhile projects including but not limited to education, health, religion, needy, cultural arts, boys/girls clubs, law enforcement, conservation, nature, water resources. She was Alabama's first female governor and was the only female governor to . Discover how our Uncovering Our Shared Memories: An Introduction to the Community Standards at AncientFaces His wife died in 1996. 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. 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 . Son, Elton B. Stephens Jr., headed EBSCO Realty, responsible for eco-friendly, sustainable development approaches such asMt Laurel in Shelby County andAlys Beach on the Florida Gulf Coast. Vernon, and was a 1968 graduate of Montgomery County High School. 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. Coeur d'Alene, Kootenai County, Idaho 83814 . [7] They had two sons, Elton B. Stephens Jr. and James T. Stephens, and two daughters, Jane S. Comer and Dell S. The kidnapper of Birmingham businessman Elton B. Stephens Jr. has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison. 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. Just coming off another divorce I think. Stephens told Burke he was scaring him and asked Burke how much money it would take to leave him alone. 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. . All rights reserved. Last Known Residence . YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Elton was a truck driver and worked with Southeastern Paper in Vidalia until his recent retirement. Memorials. The maximum penalty for conspiracy is 5 years in prison. The Remlap pair remains behind bars on no bond. Find Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and TikTok profiles, images and more on IDCrawl - free people search website. 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. The U.S. and you'll be alerted when others do the same. And so it went through the years, one thing leading to another. Advertisement. "EBSCO and the members of the family have been integral to the growth of the museum.". Driven by his love of a challenge and his passion for classical music, Matthew Amos Burke, 35, was released from the county lockup at 3:23 p.m. Friday. When 2 or more people share their unique perspectives, What Elton did fall for was a love of business. Family and friends are coming together online to create a special keepsake. Elton R Stephens was born on October 8, 1933. 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. When we share what we know, together we discover more. 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. Did Elton finish grade school, get a GED, go to high school, get a college degree or masters? Marshal Marty Keely said on Monday. At one point, Stephens tried to jump out of the vehicle, but Burke pulled him back in by his shirt. He was born July 22, 1949, in Fort Smith, Ark., to Oscar Louis Stephens and Patsy . LIONEL STEPHENS OBITUARY. Tommy Spina, attorney for Stephens, said Burke could face an additional five years in prison if convicted of escape. There is no early parole. The Biography piece is collaborative, where we work together to present the facts. Refresh this page to see various historical events that occurred during Elton's lifetime. Mr. Elton China, life journey began on Wednesday, October 7, 1942, born to the late Mr. James and Mrs. Carrie China to a large family of ten siblings. your email below for our complimentary daily grief messages. 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 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. [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. Elton Stephens, age 71, of Tarrytown, died Thursday, January 21, 2021, in Meadows Health in Vidalia after an brief illness.  He was a native of Montgomery County, growing up in Mt. Marston Bulow Stephens, age 96, of Bossier City, Louisiana passed away on Wednesday, February 22, 2023 surrounded by loving family. Send Flowers. You can still show your support by sending flowers directly to the family, or plant a tree in memory of Elton Stephens. Procha Patrice Williams was tragically struck and killed by a vehicle on Jan. 8 in Birmingham. Roughly two hours of the abduction were recorded on Stephens sleep apnea app. ", The map above shows some of the various connections to the Stephens family in the Birmingham area. Forbes may have singled out Birmingham's Stephens family as the state's richest clan, Alys Robinson Stephens Performing Arts Center, Brooke retired as CEO of EBSCO Industries, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. See What AncientFaces Does to discover more about the community. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Elton has been found in 13 states including Alabama, North Carolina, Florida, Texas, Utah. 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 . He was a native of Montgomery County, growing up in Mt. Investigators were able to track down the suspects by obtaining GPS location information that was on Stephens phone. Hodges was sentenced to 12 years in prison. 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. After more than 80 years of business and financial endeavors, Elton says working is still his favorite hobby. [2][4][5] The company sold magazine subscriptions to the United States Army. 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 former employee of the Justice Department, Hoover accepted his new position on the proviso that the bureau was to be completely divorced from politics and that the director report only to the attorney general. The longtime Mountain Brook resident's passing at the age of 91 raises questions about who succeeds her as the richest person in the state, a messy quandary that may never have had as clear an answer as Forbes has long led many to believe. The "international orange" color was chosen because it resisted rust and fading. 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. A nine-digit bank account would keep anyone sitting pretty for generations, but it doesn't automatically guarantee a claim to the title of richest Alabamian. He was released only after he wired $250,000 to a bank account of the alleged kidnappers. He has connections to . After they left, he went to a friends home to call police. BIRMINGHAM, AL Prominent Birmingham businessman Elton B. Stephens, Jr. was kidnapped from his Birmingham home Friday and ordered to pay $250,000 ransom to be released, according to police . [1][2] Stephens graduated from Birmingham-Southern College in 1932. 21 death records. At one point, earlier testimony showed, Burke told Stephens if he did anything to make Hodges feel uncomfortable, it wont end well for you.. can stop at any time. Authorities went there on Saturday, Sept. 12, and both Burke and Hodges were there. View Elton L. Tebo Stephens's obituary, send flowers and find service dates or sign the guestbook. Money said it was discovered around 3:30 p.m. Monday that Burke should have been held for transfer to federal prison, where he was to serve an already imposed sentence. Two people are behind bars after prominent Birmingham businessman Elton B. Stephens Jr. was kidnapped during a home invasion. Facebook gives people the. We would like to offer our sincere support to anyone coping with grief. Who are the richest Alabamians now that billionaire Marguerite Harbert has passed? YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. He taught Mathematics at Walter L. Cohen and Booker T. Washington High Schools. 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. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. 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. Hodges two children ages 11 and 13 were with Hodges and Burke throughout the entire ordeal. [2] Additionally, he donated $1 million to the United Way of Central Alabama in 1997, joining their Million Dollar Roundtable. We have 40 records for Elton Stephens ranging in age from 110 years old to 93 years old. Stephens was taken to the suspects home in Remlap and held against his will for eight hours. From The Tribune staff reports. Stephens chaired the Alabama Symphonic Association at the time, but it was his $15 million contribution to revive theAlabama Symphony Orchestra that gave it new life with an initial $5 million startup operating fund and a $10 million endowment that ensured its survival. Every memory left on the online obituary will be automatically included in the book. Updated: November 9, 2011 . Elton B. Stephens 1911 - 2005 2020 Inductee. 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. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to First United Methodist Church, 118 E. Morgan St., Wadesboro, NC 28170. This section is to introduce Elton Stephens with highlights of his life and how he is remembered. was released from the Jefferson County Jail, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Elton Stephens. memorial page for John Thomas Elton Stephens (26 Jun 1912-24 Nov 1966), Find a Grave Memorial ID 141627531, citing Worthy Cemetery, . 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. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. EBSCO Industries is a privately held, widely diversified corporation founded in 1944 by Elton B. Stephens (hence the EBSCO acronym E lton B S tephens CO mpany). Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). 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. The transition marks the first time EBSCO has not been led by a member of the Stephens family. Your email will not be used for any other purpose. To cover the rest of his costs, the enterprising young man worked full-time as a salesman in a local dry goods store. Stephens gave $1 million to theUnited Way of Central Alabama in 1997, one of many large personal donations he made to the charitable group. 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 . The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. 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 . 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. When I was four, I had pneumonia, and I remember my father often standing over my crib and entertaining me, Elton once recalled fondly. 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 On Friday, Dec. 10, he was accidently released from the Jefferson County Jail after state charges were dismissed. In addition to a lifetime of business and financial endeavors, Elton has committed his life to enrich the world around him. Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. As a youngster, he would rise early to milk the familys cows, then bottle and sell the milk before school. What is Elton's ethnicity and where did his parents, grandparents & great-grandparents come from? 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. All rights reserved (About Us). One of the vehicles belonged to Stephens but the detective said the suspects made him sign a $10 bill of sale for his truck. we begin to Show & Tell who they were during particular moments in their lives. The museum has a Stephens Family Gallery. 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. "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. We have no idea how Forbes could have so wrongly made this estimate. The most disturbing images were of children - a daycare center was hit by the bomb. 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. Another Alabamian who has not been identified as a billionaire by Forbes -- long considered the leading authority on the topic -- is George Barber.