Matthew Burke and Tabatha Hodges pleaded guilty on federal charges in the abduction of Elton B. Stephens, Jr. Burke and Hodges admit to kidnapping Stephens from his home last year and attempting to get a ransom of $250,000. Both issued guilty pleas in the federal case to kidnapping and bank fraud charges. Biography ID: 75204441 . 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. Share what Elton did for a living or if he had a career or profession. Eventually the group left the house with Stephens in a vehicle with Burke, and Hodges following in another vehicle with her two kids. Biographies are our place to remember and discover more about the people important to us. "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. Friends can be as close as family. 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. Burke went on to say, according to testimony, that he had bought the house two weeks before which was not true. If Garry Drummond truly is a billionaire, he would likely be the richest Alabamian, but he has not been identified as such by Forbes, and his personal finances, like those of other Alabama residents, are not available to the public. 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. Eventually the group left the house with Stephens in a vehicle with Burke, and Hodges following in another vehicle with her two kids. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. memorial page for John Thomas Elton Stephens (26 Jun 1912-24 Nov 1966), Find a Grave Memorial ID 141627531, citing Worthy Cemetery, . Hodges was sentenced to 12 years in prison. Later questioned by authorities as to how she came up with that amount, Hodges replied, it sounded like a big number.. This section is to introduce Elton Stephens with highlights of his life and how he is remembered. Updated: November 4, 2011 . 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. Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama 35201. There is almost certainly more to this story. Wadesboro Mr. Elton L. "Tebo" Stephens, 89, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, March 3, 2019. He was born in Birmingham, Alabama and is a graduate of Yale University and the Harvard Business School. The family was worth roughly $4 billion in 2014 and previously ranked 66th on Forbes list of America . A small-town boy, 11 Elton quickly learned the value of money. Link to family and friends whose lives he impacted. 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. Each summer, Elton would travel the country, enhancing his ability to sell and adding to his team. Perhaps that will be enough incentive for Mr. Burke to turn himself in, Spina said. Elton C Stephens of Montgomery, Montgomery County, Alabama was born on September 7, 1926. [2] For charitable contributions to the Birmingham Museum of Art, the Stephens Family Gallery is named in his family's honor. 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. Outstanding Student in Funeral Services Education - Emily Kline Walker; Outstanding Student in Manufacturing Technology - Lensey King Jr. All Rights Reserved. Recommend Elton's obituary to your friends. A memorial service will be held at a later date. The family, which inherited Stephens's wealth after his death in 2005, has never before discussed its finances with the media. 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. The deadliest incident of domestic terrorism ever, Timothy McVeigh, Terry Nichols, and Michael Fortier were convicted of the bombing. 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. Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. Roughly two hours of the abduction were recorded on Stephens sleep apnea app. Online condolences may be made at www.leavittfh.com. 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. He also left one of his grandsons a few hundred thousand dollars' worth of stock. we begin to Show & Tell who they were during particular moments in their lives. Share highlights of Elton's life. According to records, Burke had charges with the state, which were dismissed after a court appearance on Friday. A memorial service will be held at a later date. He was a loving husband and a faithful friend. He was born on October 24, 1926 in Hall Summit, Louisiana to the late Roy Henry and Tommie Lee Fletcher Stephens. [2], With his son James, Stephens donated $2.5 million to the University of Alabama at Birmingham. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. 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. The following summer, Elton B. Stephens assembled and coordinated a team of friends to assist him; and he learned that he was not only a good salesman, but also a good manager. Support worthwhile projects including but not limited to education, health, religion, needy, cultural arts, boys/girls clubs, law enforcement, conservation, nature, water resources. As a youngster, he would rise early to milk the familys cows, then bottle and sell the milk before school. We would like to offer our sincere support to anyone coping with grief. 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. Fred Senter officiating. and has brown hair and blue eyes. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Voice of Grace Ministries, 1221 Orange St., Vidalia, GA 30474. Sponsored by Ancestry. Matthew Amos Burke, 35, was freed from the Jefferson County Jail on Dec. 10, more than a month after pleading guilty to federal charges in the abduction of Birmingham businessman Elton B. Stephens . He died on January 21, 2006 at 72 years of age. LIONEL STEPHENS OBITUARY. Taking 5 years to build, the 4,200-foot-long suspension bridge was an engineering marvel of its time - 11 men died during construction. 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 Every memory left on the online obituary will be automatically included in the book. Elton Stephens of Cleveland, Blount County, Alabama was born on July 5, 1913, and died at age 71 years old in October 1984. 2023 Ronald V. Hall Funeral Home. 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. 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 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 . Williams, 34, was hit at about 2:28 a.m. after exiting her disabled vehicle on the Elton B. Stephens Expressway. He was a member and deacon of Voice of GraceMinistries in Vidalia. [5], Stephens died on February 5, 2005. 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 . was abducted in the morning hours of Sept. 11, 2020, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. 21 death records. A pair of kidnappers has been arrested after abducting a retired Alabama businessman and forcing him to pay a $250,000 ransom to gain his freedom, AL.com reports.. Elton B. Stephens is among four artists who will be inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame during its induction banquet Saturday at the Marriott Shoals Conference Center in Florence. 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. 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 . 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). When I was four, I had pneumonia, and I remember my father often standing over my crib and entertaining me, Elton once recalled fondly. Procha Patrice Williams was tragically struck and killed by a vehicle on Jan. 8 in Birmingham. Matthew Amos Burke, 34, and Tabatha Nicole Hodges, 33, are charged with burglary, kidnapping an adult for ransom, extortion and theft of property. There is no early parole in federal court. All rights reserved (About Us). November 13, 1892 . He was released only after he wired $250,000 to a bank account of the alleged kidnappers. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. [5] They met as students at Birmingham-Southern College and graduated together in 1932. After they left, he went to a friends home to call police. 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. Elton Jr. has always been kind of the black sheep of the family and was not heavily involved in the family business. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. [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. Obituary. Discover how our Uncovering Our Shared Memories: An Introduction to the Community Standards at AncientFaces 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. [2][4][5] The company sold magazine subscriptions to the United States Army. 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. 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. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. and you'll be alerted when others do the same. Elton B Stephens lived 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. The active involvement of the Stephens' family has contributed to the growth of EBSCO. That led them to the location where Stephens had been taken. The Biography piece is collaborative, where we work together to present the facts. Messages run for up to one year and you But just who will be the benefactor of her fortune remains unknown beyond her inner circle, as her will is not yet available for public perusal at Jefferson County Probate Court. FUNERAL HOME. Elton's Obituary . "I can't say enough about what the Stephens family has done and continue to do for this community," she said. Vernon where he lived until . On the way to Remlap, the group stopped at a Full Moon Bar-B-Que drive-thru to get lunch. He was released only after he wired $250,000 to a bank account of the alleged kidnappers. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Elton Stephens please visit our,
Mr. [2][6], Stephens was married to Alys Robinson. She was the first wife of Alabama governor George Wallace, whom she succeeded as governor because the Alabama constitution forbade consecutive terms. Good healthy years, being successful in whatever it is you may choose to do, after this, as long as you do it right.. 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. 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. Death . What schools or universities did Elton attend? Select the next to any field to update. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Hodges two children ages 11 and 13 were with Hodges and Burke throughout the entire ordeal. 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). That led them to the location where Stephens had been taken. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Elton Stephens. The Stephens fortune was amassed under the leadership of Elton Bryson Stephens, Sr., who in 1944 famously spent just $5,000 to embark on a business venture that would eventually become the massively successful company EBSCO Industries, which reportedly now does $2.4 billion in sales and employs nearly 6,000 people.
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