It has a great diversity in businesses that include information services, publishing and digital media, outdoor products, real estate, manufacturing and general services. You can still show your support by sending flowers directly to the family, or plant a tree in memory of Elton Stephens. Coeur d'Alene, Kootenai County, Idaho 83814 . Tabatha Nicole Hodges (Jefferson County Jail). "My children learned from an early age that if they wanted to eat, they had to work. Elton Stephens believes anyone can successfully sell anything. 44 birth, 21 death, 3 marriage, 327 divorce, View One of the vehicles belonged to Stephens but the detective said the suspects made him sign a $10 bill of sale for his truck. Burkes co-defendant, Tabatha Nicole Hodges, is set to have a change of plea hearing on Aug. 31. Photos, memories, family stories & discoveries are unique to you, and only you can control. AncientFaces is a place where our memories live. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. The museum has a Stephens Family Gallery. 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. EBSCO Industries is now so diverse it deals with everything from investments to library periodicals, plastic fishing lures to steel joists, indoor advertising to realty, with Eltons love of selling seemingly forever moving the company forward into new markets. Elton has been found in 13 states including Alabama, North Carolina, Florida, Texas, Utah. In 1928, after graduating from Barbour County High School, Elton set off for Birmingham-Southern College with just $125. 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. Elton's Obituary . To send flowers All rights reserved (About Us). Stephens was taken to the suspects home in Remlap and held against his will for eight hours. "I can't say enough about what the Stephens family has done and continue to do for this community," she said. You can take any business, any product, anything and sell it, he says. U.S. 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. 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. [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. 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. Obituary. Tabatha Nicole Hodges (Jefferson County Jail). James Stephens is the Chairman of EBSCO Industries. 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 has brown hair and blue eyes. 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. [1] His son James serves as the chairman of EBSCO Industries. Matthew Amos Burke, 35, was released from the county lockup at 3:23 p.m. Friday. He died on January 21, 2006 at 72 years of age. Every memory left on the online obituary will be automatically included in the book. 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. and you'll be alerted when others do the same. He was released only after he wired $250,000 to a bank account of the alleged kidnappers. 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. FUNERAL HOME. [5] They met as students at Birmingham-Southern College and graduated together in 1932. 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. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Recommend Elton's obituary to your friends. Elton B. Stephens Jr. remembers begging his father to build him a go-cart. 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. After hearing that Peary had beaten him to the North Pole, Amundsen decided to tackle the South Pole. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Matthew Amos Burke, 34, and Tabatha Nicole Hodges, 33, are charged with burglary, kidnapping an adult for ransom, extortion and theft of property. Elton Stephens believes anyone can successfully sell anything. After graduating from law school . 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. [2] They also paid $15 million for the construction of the Elton B. Stephens Science Center on the campus of BirminghamSouthern College. 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). 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. What schools or universities did Elton attend? A memorial service will be held at a later date. Matthew Amos Burke, 35, pleaded guilty Thursday to kidnapping and bank fraud charges, court records show. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. The Birmingham Police Department is investigating the accident. "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. Arrangements in Wadesboro are being handled by Leavitt Funeral Home. In 1924, at the age of just 13 years old, Elton was alive when J. Edgar Hoover, at the age of 29, was appointed the sixth director of the Bureau of Investigation by Calvin Coolidge (which later became the Federal Bureau of Investigation). One of the vehicles belonged to Stephens but the detective said the suspects made him sign a $10 bill of sale for his truck. At one point, Stephens tried to jump out of the vehicle, but Burke pulled him back in by his shirt. To cover the rest of his costs, the enterprising young man worked full-time as a salesman in a local dry goods store. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. February 1976 . He was born on October 24, 1926 in Hall Summit, Louisiana to the late Roy Henry and Tommie Lee Fletcher 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 . The binding plea agreement calls for Burke to be sentenced to 17 years in federal prison. Elton R Stephens was born on October 8, 1933. Hodges was sentenced to 12 years in prison. North America. For years he has been referred to as a billionaire in news articles and other forums, but any definitive proof of the extent of high his net worth remains elusive. Elton Bryson Stephens Sr. (19112005) was an American businessman from Alabama, who founded EBSCO Industries. Liberty County. [2][4][5] The company sold magazine subscriptions to the United States Army. He chose the magazine route and kept selling and hiring others to sell. 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. According to previous testimony and court records, the suspects entered Stephens Crest Road rental home about 2 a.m. In 1937, by the time he was 26 years old, on May 28th, the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge opened to cars. According to records, Burke had charges with the state, which were dismissed after a court appearance on Friday. A Birmingham native, Harbert was the lone billionaire in Alabama, Forbes claimed last year. Elton Stephens Elton Stephens (1913 - 1984) Jump to: Biography Memories . So now that Harbert has passed away, there is no clear heir to the title of wealthiest Alabama resident. Mr. Elton Stephens, age 71, of Tarrytown, died Thursday, January 21, 2021, in Meadows Health in Vidalia after an brief illness. He was born on June 21, 1934 in Minster, Ohio to the late Frank & Rose (Jacobs) Meiring. Matthew Amos Burke, 35, was being . Vernon, and was a 1968 graduate of Montgomery County High School.  He served four years in the U.S. Army and returned to Mt. [2] For charitable contributions to the Birmingham Museum of Art, the Stephens Family Gallery is named in his family's honor. He was a member and deacon of Voice of GraceMinistries in Vidalia. Marshal Marty Keely said on Monday. In fact, it has never actually been clear whether Harbert truly was the richest Alabamian, let alone the state's only billionaire. Marshals are in possession of a receipt that the detainer notices were signed and marked received by a deputy on Nov. 24, 2021. Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama 35201. Every memory left on the online obituary will be automatically included in the book. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. In order to avoid impeachment, Richard M. Nixon announced that he would resign on August 8th, the first President to do so. 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. On December 14th, he succeeded. Share. But it is highly likely that the Harberts will no longer be able to claim that the richest living Alabamian is a member of their privileged family tree. See What AncientFaces Does to discover more about the community. Investigators were able to track down the suspects by obtaining GPS location information that was on Stephens phone. Stephens told Burke he was scaring him and asked Burke how much money it would take to leave him alone. Elton B. Stephens. Elton and Jim also contributed $15 million towards the $26 million Elton B. Stephens Science Center at Birmingham-Southern. That led them to the location where Stephens had been taken. Sheriffs Sgt. That first year, I saved $500 and thats like several thousand today, he remembers. Roughly two hours of the abduction were recorded on Stephens sleep apnea app. Vernon where he lived until . Vernon where he lived until moving to Tarrytown in 1989. Stephens is the son of Elton B. Stephens Sr., who started the conglomerate EBSCO Industries. James Stephens, Elton Stephens, Jane Comer, Dell S Brooke - $4 billion. 1973, and has spent the past eight and a half years serving as President and CEO only the third President in EBSCO's 70- year history. The city and state honored Stephens' support of civic projects by renaming the Red Mountain Expressway the "Elton B. Stephens Expressway. Elton B. Stephens 1911 - 2005 2020 Inductee. 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 couple had four children: James T. Stephens, Jane Stephens Comer, Elton B. Stephens, Jr., and Dell Stephens Brooke. Stephens at some point asked kidnappers what it would take for them to leave him alone and Hodges replied, $400,000. Williams, 34, was hit at about 2:28 a.m. after exiting her disabled vehicle on the Elton B. Stephens Expressway. Share profits and protect the welfare and health of employees with a major catastrophic medical program. 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). 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. Share highlights of Elton's life. John Thomas Elton Stephens. A small-town boy, 11 Elton quickly learned the value of money. [2][6], Stephens was married to Alys Robinson. He also left one of his grandsons a few hundred thousand dollars' worth of stock. 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. After they left, he went to a friends home to call police. Unlock the mysteries of your family history and explore the rich tapestry of your past with AncientFaces. Born . The city and state honored Stephens' support of civic projects by renaming the Red Mountain Expressway the "Elton B. Stephens Expressway" on Sept. 11, 1975. Two people are behind bars after prominent Birmingham businessman Elton B. Stephens Jr. was kidnapped during a home invasion. When we share what we know, together we discover more. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to First United Methodist Church, 118 E. Morgan St., Wadesboro, NC 28170. 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. His wife died in 1996. Matthew Amos Burke (Jefferson County Jail). 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. [7] They had two sons, Elton B. Stephens Jr. and James T. Stephens, and two daughters, Jane S. Comer and Dell S. Vernon where he lived until moving to Tarrytown in 1989. EBSCO's history reaches back to the first summer of the Great Depression when 19-year-old Clio, Alabama, native Elton B. Stephens sold magazine subscriptions door to door to earn money for college. Stephens at some point asked kidnappers what it would take for them to leave him alone and Hodges replied, $400,000. when he died at the age of 93. Elton Jr. has always been kind of the black sheep of the family and was not heavily involved in the family business. Later questioned by authorities as to how she came up with that amount, Hodges replied, it sounded like a big number.. STEPHENS Lionel H. Stephens, a retired educator and computer analyst, died Friday, July 27, 2012 at the age of 76 in Baton Rouge, LA. That went so well he branched out to other military bases and was able to save to start his own business. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. 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. According to previous testimony and court records, the suspects entered Stephens Crest Road rental home about 2 a.m. He served four years in the U.S. Army and returned to Mt. Burke was sentenced to 17 years in prison for kidnapping Elton B. Stephens Jr. last year, according to jail records. At the time transfer from the neighboring agency, there was no documentation left to notify jail personnel that Burke had been sentenced by another court and was not to be released.. 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. Burke was sentenced to 17 years, and Hodges to 12 years, in the federal penitentiary system. 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. 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. And Tommie Lee Fletcher Stephens son of Elton Stephens Elton Stephens money it would take leave! Leavitt Funeral home Harbert was the lone billionaire in Alabama, Forbes last..., Texas, Utah Stephens Science Center at Birmingham-Southern Jane Stephens Comer, Elton Stephens Jane... To eat, they had to work in 1928, after graduating from County... 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