It was Elton and Jim who initiated EBSCO's $2.5 million contribution to the University of Alabama's capital campaign in 1995. Investigators were able to track down the suspects by obtaining GPS location information that was on Stephens phone. Hodges two children ages 11 and 13 were with Hodges and Burke throughout the entire ordeal. Stephens is the son of Elton B. Stephens, founder of EBSCO Industries, one of the largest privately-owned companies in America. USA. 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. Eventually the group left the house with Stephens in a vehicle with Burke, and Hodges following in another vehicle with her two kids. 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. Mr. Elton L. Tebo Stephens, 89, of Wadesboro, NC, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, March 3, 2019. 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. She was Alabama's first female governor and was the only female governor to . [1] His son James serves as the chairman of EBSCO Industries. In fact, one five-member clan has been identified as wealthy enough that any one -- or all -- of them could be in possession of significantly more than $600 million each. "The business is as much a part of the family as the family is part of the business," explains founder, 90-year-old Elton B. Stephens. He was a native of Montgomery County, growing up in Mt. 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. They had two sons, Elton B. Stephens Jr. and James T. Stephens, and two daughters, Jane S. Comer and Dell S. Brooke. Spina said he is confident Marshals or other law enforcement agencies will apprehend Burke if he does not surrender. 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. 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. Elton B. Stephens, Jr., the retired CEO of EBSCO Industries, was reportedly kidnapped from his bed last Friday and held for ransom. [5] His wife died in 1996. becomes full Evans-Skipper Funeral Home - Donalsonville. 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. To the present, it is the symbol of the City that is known throughout the world. Obituary. "I was just obsessed with bicycles and motorcycles and cars." In short, he was all about anything with wheels. Help paint a picture of Elton so that he is always remembered. Elton Stephens Elton Stephens (1913 - 1984) Jump to: Biography Memories . The family was worth roughly $4 billion in 2014 and previously ranked 66th on Forbes list of America . Once the money was deposited, the suspects drove Stephens back to his rental house. A small-town boy, 11 Elton quickly learned the value of money. He was released only after he wired $250,000 to a bank account of the alleged kidnappers. [5] They met as students at Birmingham-Southern College and graduated together in 1932. Stephens at some point asked kidnappers what it would take for them to leave him alone and Hodges replied, $400,000. Mr. Elton Stephens, age 71, of Tarrytown, died Thursday, January 21, 2021, in Meadows Health in Vidalia after an briefillness. 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 . A memorial service will be held at a later date. If the Stephens name rings a bell for many Birmingham residents, it's probably due to the visible results of the philanthropic work the family has done over the decades. All rights reserved (About Us). Baker McCullough Funeral Home Danyse G. Edel BY ANCESTRY.COM. Procha Patrice Williams was tragically struck and killed by a vehicle on Jan. 8 in Birmingham. Taking 5 years to build, the 4,200-foot-long suspension bridge was an engineering marvel of its time - 11 men died during construction. You have to stay with it, learn from mistakes, know what youre doing and youll succeed.. The museum has a Stephens Family Gallery. On the way to Remlap, the group stopped at a Full Moon Bar-B-Que drive-thru to get lunch. A Birmingham native, Harbert was the lone billionaire in Alabama, Forbes claimed last year. Roughly two hours of the abduction were recorded on Stephens sleep apnea app. 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. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. 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. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Last Known Residence . Born . Burke was sentenced to 17 years, and Hodges to 12 years, in the federal penitentiary system. 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 . His father Elton B. Stephens started the company . Vernon, and was a 1968 graduate of Montgomery County High School. Mr. Elton L. "Tebo" Stephens, 89, of Wadesboro, NC, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, March 3, 2019. Fred Senter officiating. Marston graduated from Bossier High School and joined the United States ARMY. [2] Additionally, he donated $1 million to the United Way of Central Alabama in 1997, joining their Million Dollar Roundtable. STEPHENS Lionel H. Stephens, a retired educator and computer analyst, died Friday, July 27, 2012 at the age of 76 in Baton Rouge, LA. The suspect asked Stephens, What are you doing my house? which startled and confused Stephens. a Brooke. Hodges two children ages 11 and 13 were with Hodges and Burke throughout the entire ordeal. "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. Stephens' son, Jim ''J.T.'' YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. She was the first wife of Alabama governor George Wallace, whom she succeeded as governor because the Alabama constitution forbade consecutive terms. 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. 909 South Tennille Ave. Donalsonville, GA. ELTON STEPHENS OBITUARY . He enjoyed fishing, camping, woodworkingand tinkering. 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. Burke went on to say, according to testimony, that he had bought the house two weeks before which was not true. He was born on June 21, 1934 in Minster, Ohio to the late Frank & Rose (Jacobs) Meiring. The man accused of kidnapping prominent Birmingham businessman Elton B. Stephens Jr. has pleaded guilty to federal charges in last years abduction. He was the son of James Nelson and Clara Stuckey Stephens. Tabatha Nicole Hodges (Jefferson County Jail). Eventually the group left the house with Stephens in a vehicle with Burke, and Hodges following in another vehicle with her two kids. "He took a six-panel wood door and put a steering wheel on it and a lawn mower engine on the back and four tires," Stephens recalls of the elder. All rights reserved. Tabatha Nicole Hodges, 33, was sentenced Thursday to 12 years for her part in the 2020 abduction of Stephens. Vernon, and was a 1968 graduate of Montgomery County High School. He served four years in the U.S. Army and returned to Mt. Sheriffs Sgt. Birmingham and Mountain Brook police, as well as the FBI and the U.S. Secret Service, responded. 94, February 25, 2023, Baker McCullough Funeral Home. Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. 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. Refresh this page to see various historical events that occurred during Elton's lifetime. 2017-2023 Tribute Archive. The U.S. In 1937, by the time he was 26 years old, on May 28th, the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge opened to cars. She also initially said that the kidnapping was all her idea, not her boyfriends, but later said that was a lie. Every memory left on the online obituary will be automatically included in the book. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Stephens also founded theMetropolitan Arts Council in 1986 and was a major contributor to the Birmingham Museum of Art. 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. Soon after, along came an EBSCO publishing and bindery company to help keep the racks full of reading matter, and later a printing plant. Before passing away at the age of 93 in 2005, Stephens and his wife, who preceded him in death in 1996, spent the last few decades of their lives donating millions to charity, educational institutions, the arts and various civic causes. and you'll be alerted when others do the same. Wadesboro Mr. Elton L. "Tebo" Stephens, 89, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, March 3, 2019. 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). She also initially said that the kidnapping was all her idea, not her boyfriends, but later said that was a lie. He has served as chairman of the Board of Trustees for Birmingham-Southern College and had numerous scholarships established in his name at both his alma maters; his honors and accolades abound. Eventually the group left the house with Stephens in a vehicle with Burke, and Hodges following in another vehicle with her two kids. The suspect asked Stephens, What are you doing my house? which startled and confused Stephens. The Red Mountain Expressway, Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center, and the 99,500-square-foot Elton B. Stephens Science Center at Birmingham-Southern College were all named in honor of the family's charitable work and donations. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. 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. Matthew Amos Burke, 35, was being . 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). 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. 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. Elton Stephens . [4] It later became known as EBSCO Industries, a diversified company in "information services, publishing and digital media, outdoor products, real estate, manufacturing and general services. Good healthy years, being successful in whatever it is you may choose to do, after this, as long as you do it right.. 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. 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. What started as Military Service Co. selling magazine subscriptions to military bases evolved to become EBSCO Industries, a global company with nearly 6,000 employees and nearly 50 different companies operating in 23 countries. Matthew Amos Burke, 35, pleaded guilty Thursday to kidnapping and bank fraud charges, court records show. All rights reserved (About Us). Elton's immediate relatives including parents, siblings, partnerships and children in the Stephens family tree. Elton was a truck driver and worked with Southeastern Paper in Vidalia until his recent retirement. The "international orange" color was chosen because it resisted rust and fading. By 1936, at 25 years old, Elton had graduated from the University of Alabama Law School and was earning more money weekly managing sales people part-time than a starting . Welcome to AncientFaces, a com "Thank you for helping me find my family & friends again so many years after I lost them. On December 14th, he succeeded. Elton had continued selling subscriptions as he worked to complete his education, even hiring other students to work for him, including fellow Barbour County boy George Wallace, who would later become governor of Alabama. "When I was four, I had pneumonia, and I remember my father often standing over my crib and entertaining . 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 Add Elton's family friends, and his friends from childhood through adulthood. [1][2] Stephens graduated from Birmingham-Southern College in 1932. In fact, it has never actually been clear whether Harbert truly was the richest Alabamian, let alone the state's only billionaire. Mr. Elton Stephens, age 71, of Tarrytown, died Thursday, January 21, 2021, in Meadows Health in Vidalia after an brief illness. Messages run for up to one year and you After they left, he went to a friends home to call police. Hodges two children ages 11 and 13 were with Hodges and Burke throughout the entire ordeal. 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