According to court records and a complaint filed with the State, former first lady Lisa Taylor Wallace has been placed in an unnecessary court-ordered guardianship and conservatorship and is being held against her will at the Briar Glen Alzheimer's Special Care Center in Hoover despite a recent clean bill of health.
In the complaint filed with the State of Alabama Board of Examiners of Assisted Living Administrators against the facility and its administrator Callie Simmons, Billy McFarland, a decades long friend of Wallace's, alleges that on March 15, 2025, Wallace was told that she was being taken to the facility for two weeks to receive physical therapy for an old injury; however, she has been held there against her will since then, with her phone and electronic devices taken away from her.
The statement included with the complaint, which identifies Briar Glen Alzheimer's Special Care Center as BG and former first lady Lisa Taylor Wallace as LTW, reads:
"It is with belief that LTW is being held against her will as a captive or "prisoner" in an elaborate scheme orchestrated by her son, Taylor Gordon, her nephew, Mort Taylor, Esq., and appointed Conservators Greg Hawley and Ripon Britton, Jr. of Hand Arendall Harrison Sale Law Firm in Birmingham, to keep her confined unnecessarily to misappropriate LTW's sizable estate valued in the tens of millions of dollars. LTW was a member of the noted Taylor Family of Jasper, whose far-flung business interests include a coal mining empire, hotels, agricultural airplane charter service, short line railway, and international offshore energy production, as well as timber and real estate investments."
Explaining what led to Wallace's admission to the facility and the results of a recent neuropsychological evaluation and capacity report, McFarland says:
The Conservator transported LTW against her will and to BG on or about March 15, 2025 stating she would receive physical therapy for an old hip injury for two (2) weeks. Note that BG is a specialty Alzheimer's care unit. LTW has never been diagnosed with any mental illness including but not limited to Alzheimer's Disease or any type of dementia. Please find a complete copy of a recent neuropsychological evaluation and capacity report concerning LTW executed by Dr. Kristen Triebel on June 25, 2025. As you will note, the report states the LTW scored average to well above average on all cognitive areas after a multi-day comprehensive evaluation, and further the report states that in her professional opinion, Dr. Triebel states that LTW is not incapacitated and in need of a legal guardian and conservator, and further that LTW will be happier and receive better access to her social group and other resources including physical therapy and medical care if the is allowed to return to her home.
It further describes her circumstances, explaining:
Per State of Alabama statute, no person shall be admitted to a SCALF Facility without a diagnosis of dementia or Alzheimer's disease without a directive from a licensed physician. LTW has literally been trapped in such a facility, BG, continuously since March 15, 2025, with her visitors monitored and in some cases limited by the Conservators and BG staff. LTW is deprived of the use of a telephone in her room, and has effectively been quarantined without cause for four months in a locked medical facility that provides no medical services to her. BG has even denied her the ability to go out for lunch or other nonmedical day trips afforded other BG patients for no just cause.Despite her persecution, LTW has treated BG staff with respect since her admission. LTW has beeninstitutionalized without having any significant cognitive impartments and without a directive from her physician.
The statement says that the facility recently removed Wallace's attorney, Charles Waldrep, from a meeting with her and asked that the facility and "its Administrator Ms. Callie Simmons should be immediately held accountable for their egregious misconduct in wrongfully depriving LTW of her freedom and liberty."
The case bears an eerie resemblance to that of the late Joann Bashinsky, who found herself in similar circumstances also involving Greg Hawley and the Jefferson County Probate Court.
The Alabama State Supreme Court ruled in Bashinsky's favor, releasing her from her conservatorship, though it loomed over her until her death.
Wallace's lawyers have filed an emergency motion that is pending before the Jefferson County Probate Court.
Lisa Taylor Wallace met former Gov. George Wallace when she was a country music artist performing with her sister for his presidential campaign. They married in 1981, and she would serve as the first lady during Wallace's fourth term, from 1983 to 1987.
In 2002, she ran for state treasurer as a Republican, ultimately advancing to a runoff against Kay Ivey. Wallace received 33% of the vote, and Ivey went on to serve as treasurer before being elected lieutenant governor and later governor.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email [email protected]
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning, or become a member to gain access to exclusive content and 1819 News merch.
