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.
. Previous state court testimony indicated Stephens did not know his abductors. Share memories and family stories, photos, or ask questions. "I can't say enough about what the Stephens family has done and continue to do for this community," she said. 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. 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). Elton Stephens, Sr.'s wife, Alys Robinson Stephens, passed away in 1996, leaving the couple's four children, Elton B. Stephens, Jr., James T. Stephens, Jane S. Comer and Dell S. Brooke, as the only remaining members of his nuclear family. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Unlock the mysteries of your family history and explore the rich tapestry of your past with AncientFaces. 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 . He was a native of Montgomery County, growing up in Mt. Good healthy years, being successful in whatever it is you may choose to do, after this, as long as you do it right.. 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. James Stephens is the Chairman of EBSCO Industries. 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). Investigators were able to track down the suspects by obtaining GPS location information that was on Stephens phone. Investigators were able to track down the suspects by obtaining GPS location information that was on Stephens phone. All rights reserved (About Us). Your email will not be used for any other purpose. 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. 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). Select the next to any field to update. Roughly two hours of the abduction were recorded on Stephens sleep apnea app. 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. 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. Elton and Jim also contributed $15 million towards the $26 million Elton B. Stephens Science Center at Birmingham-Southern. One of the vehicles belonged to Stephens but the detective said the suspects made him sign a $10 bill of sale for his truck. The woman who took part in the kidnapping of prominent Birmingham businessman Elton B. Stephens Jr. has been sentenced to federal prison. 22 years longer than Mr. Elton Stephens, age 71, of Tarrytown, died Thursday, January 21, 2021, in Meadows Health in Vidalia after an briefillness. 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. Roughly two hours of the abduction were recorded on Stephens sleep apnea app. [5] They met as students at Birmingham-Southern College and graduated together in 1932. 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. Elton Bryson Stephens Sr. (19112005) was an American businessman from Alabama, who founded EBSCO Industries. 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). Later questioned by authorities as to how she came up with that amount, Hodges replied, it sounded like a big number.. Select the pencil to add details. EBSCO Industries. Stephens' son, Jim ''J.T.'' 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. The transition marks the first time EBSCO has not been led by a member of the Stephens family. Elton B. Stephens 1911 - 2005 2020 Inductee. The family will greet friends prior to the service from 12:45 pm until 1:45 pm at the church. Marshal Marty Keely said on Monday. Vernon where he lived until moving to Tarrytown in 1989. Stephens told Burke he was scaring him and asked Burke how much money it would take to leave him alone. 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. "Birmingham-Southern College: Elton B. Stephens Science Center", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Elton_Bryson_Stephens_Sr.&oldid=1107106581, This page was last edited on 28 August 2022, at 05:35. I get the chance to remember the Share yesterday to connect today & preserve tomorrow, Copyright 1999-2023 AncientFaces, Inc. All Rights Reserved, ADVERTISEMENT We have no idea how Forbes could have so wrongly made this estimate. This section is to introduce Elton Stephens with highlights of his life and how he is remembered. 94, February 25, 2023, Baker McCullough Funeral Home. Once the money was deposited, the suspects drove Stephens back to his rental house. You can still show your support by sending flowers directly to the family, or plant a tree in memory of Elton Stephens. can stop at any time. Matthew Amos Burke, 34, and Tabatha Nicole Hodges, 33, are charged with burglary, kidnapping an adult for ransom, extortion and theft of property. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife Carolyn Frink Stephens and a sister, Cecile Stephens Kennedy. In 1928, after graduating from Barbour County High School, Elton set off for Birmingham-Southern College with just $125. Matthew Amos Burke, 35, was released from the county lockup at 3:23 p.m. Friday. He is currently safe, and two suspects are in custody. Friends can be as close as family. was abducted in the morning hours of Sept. 11, 2020, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. Stephens was taken to the suspects home in Remlap and held against his will for eight hours. 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. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. "Neither EBSCO or our family is worth anywhere near Forbes' estimate. Marston graduated from Bossier High School and joined the United States ARMY. He was a native of Montgomery County, growing up in Mt. Vernon where he lived until moving to . Memorials. Outstanding Student in Funeral Services Education - Emily Kline Walker; Outstanding Student in Manufacturing Technology - Lensey King Jr. Birmingham and Mountain Brook police, as well as the FBI and the U.S. Secret Service, responded. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. James Lewis Stephens. Mr. Elton Stephens, age 71, of Tarrytown, died Thursday, January 21, 2021, in Meadows Health in Vidalia after an briefillness. Online condolences may be made at www.leavittfh.com. And I found it odd that he has retained Spina, the criminal defense attorney quoted in . He enjoyed fishing, camping, woodworkingand tinkering. What schools or universities did Elton attend? Stephens was born on August 4, 1911, in Clio, Alabama. 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 According to his will -- dated April 12, 1993, and filed with the probate court shortly after his death on Feb. 5, 2005 -- the Stephens patriarch named his four children as his heirs. On the way to Remlap, the group stopped at a Full Moon Bar-B-Que drive-thru to get lunch. Burke went on to say, according to testimony, that he had bought the house two weeks before which was not true. Stephens was taken to the suspects home in Remlap and held against his will for eight hours. a can stop at any time. In fact, it has never actually been clear whether Harbert truly was the richest Alabamian, let alone the state's only billionaire. Link to family and friends whose lives he impacted. Elton Earl Stephens. He once tried to swap me a nickel for a dime saying it was bigger and had more value. 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. One of the vehicles belonged to Stephens but the detective said the suspects made him sign a $10 bill of sale for his truck. Stephens is the son of Elton B. Stephens, Sr., who started EBSCO Industries in the 1940s and became one of the most successful businessmen in Alabama history. The couple had four children: James T. Stephens, Jane Stephens Comer, Elton B. Stephens, Jr., and Dell Stephens Brooke. He served four years in the U.S. Army and returned to Mt. Matthew Amos Burke, 35, pleaded guilty . Share profits and protect the welfare and health of employees with a major catastrophic medical program. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. That led them to the location where Stephens had been taken. His father Elton B. Stephens started the company . EBSCO consistently ranks among the state's largest private companies. The editor has been contacted for making a correction to their data.". Stopped at a Full Moon Bar-B-Que drive-thru to get lunch Center at Birmingham-Southern with. Before which was not heavily involved in the kidnapping of prominent Birmingham Elton... Did a war or conflict interfere with his life and how he spent his time sending... 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