Jefferson McQueen

Jefferson Eugene was born on February 17, 1962 to Lester Eugene and the late Dulcia Ann McQueen. He was immediately met with the challenges of Cerebral Palsy. The doctor’s prognosis at birth was grim, as his life expectancy would be no more than 6-7 years. His parents accepted that challenge with grace and grit. They determined he would have every advantage they could give him. They surrounded him with love and treated him as they would any other child. Lo and behold, at the age doctors said his life would cease, he was a thriving student at Easter Seals. A few years later in 1971 at the age of 9, he would become one of the first 6 students registered at the newly found preschool now widely known as Pathfinder, Inc.

Despite not being able to walk, talk or even feed himself, Jefferson excelled at everything he put his mind to do. Those who knew him best knew him to communicate with his eyes, a head nod and even a holler. But he didn’t stop there. He learned to more effectively communicate with any and everyone by using a typewriter, and then a communication device. In 1990, he graduated from the Little Rock Public School’s Adult Education Center with his General Education Diploma.

Shortly thereafter, at the age of 29 years old he started his full-time job at Pathfinder. Enabled by friends, coworkers, a conveyor belt and projector, then linked to a computer, he began inputting billing data into their system via his communication device.

Jeff continued his employment from May 31, 1991 – November 26, 2018, when he had to take medical leave and eventually retire.

Throughout the course of his life, he bought his own home and several vehicles not only to facilitate his transportation, but also that of his roommate and brother, Brian Beck. He was bound and determined to make his own way, and that he did. There was never a challenge he didn’t meet head-on, including this last challenge of breast cancer. But not even cancer would defeat him.

In 2012, he found a Hope in the night at Lighthouse Pentecostal Church. He quickly became a proud and faithful member of the “Amen Corner.”

He fought WAY beyond that 6- or 7-year life expectancy.

Jeff’s heart and life can be summarized in one verse of Scripture. These words may have never left his lips in the form of words we could understand, but we HAVE seen them come to fruition.

Psalm 119:133KJV “Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.”

On October 8th, 2025, Jefferson Eugene McQueen, aka Turtle Man, took his first steps. Not on carpet or vinyl, pavement, or even grass, but after waiting 63 long years, his first steps were taken on streets of purest gold – CANCER FREE.

Talk about steps ordered by the Lord…

Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, October 18, 2025, at Lighthouse Pentecostal Church followed by funeral service at 11:00. Burial will be in Meadowbrook Memorial Gardens. Arrangements by Smith-Westbrook Funeral Home, Beebe. www.smithfamilycares.com