Kenneth Joshua Beebe

Kenneth, known to everyone as Josh, sometimes “Joshee” or “Joshman” passed away on Monday, December 2, 2024. He was born at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, GA. At the age of seven months, he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, a failure to thrive. When Josh was eighteen months old the doctor told his family that he should be placed in a facility, and he wouldn’t live past two years old. You should never tell a mother what her child will or will not be able to do. With that being said his mom made the decision to move back home to New York, where he can strive to be the best that he can be, and that he did for the next thirty-four years.

Attending early intervention, receiving physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy, life began at St. Charles Learning Center. This was the start of his amazing achievements. He also met some of the most wonderful people which some are still a part of his life until the end. Josh was a television star in his own right as he appeared on the Channel 12 News section “Head of The Class” with Ken Grimball. The first time Ken was doing a piece on St. Charles Hospital and overheard Josh in speech therapy talking with his delta talker and became amazed, he spent the next hour with Josh.

The second time was when his wheelchair Jr. Varsity basketball team “The Shooting Stars,” won the championship. Josh loved participating in the Special Olympics of Nassau County. He loved music, especially Prince, which he went to three of his concerts, he also enjoyed Earth, Wind, and Fire. He loved movies, the scarier the better. He enjoyed laughing with his favorite comedian Kevin Hart, whom he also saw in person. He loved watching baseball and was the #1 fan of the NY Mets (against his mother’s wishes. She’s a Yankee fan).

One of his favorite moments was when he was gifted by the “Make-A-Wish Foundation”, a week at Walt Disney in Orlando, Florida, where he was treated like royalty at all the theme parks, which included arriving at the airport for his first plane ride in a limousine. Josh fought through every obstacle that came his way for 36 years until he just couldn’t fight anymore. We will certainly miss his smile, which always lit up a room and our hearts, his sense of humor, and his contagious laughter.

He is survived by his mom, Jeanette, his sister Jasmine, his brother Tyrus, his two nieces, Angel and Lavender, his Aunt Judy, Aunt Stephanie, Aunt Janie, Aunt Minni, and his Uncle Stephen, many cousins, and all his friends which everyone played a special role in his life.

Family and friends are invited to attend his celebration of life service on Friday, December 20th, from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm at LeRoy P. Wooster Funeral Home & Crematory, 441 White Horse Pike, Atco, NJ.