Jean Beasley didn’t just protect sea turtles-she protected promises. After losing her daughter Karen to leukemia, Jean honored her final wish by founding a sea turtle rescue center on Topsail Island, North Carolina. What began as a small act of love grew into a sanctuary that healed thousands of turtles and inspired countless people. Jean’s hands were always busy-guiding hatchlings to the sea, comforting injured animals, and teaching children that every life, no matter how small, matters.

She believed conservation was about connection, not just care. Her impact is extraordinary. She founded the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center into a 13,000-square-foot hospital and education hub in Surf City. With more than 245,000 hatchlings safely reaching the ocean, and at least 1,600 turtles treated and released back into the wild. She was honored in 2022 with the Thomas L. Quay Wildlife Diversity Award for her long-standing leadership in conservation (North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, 2022).

Jean Beasley passed away in December 2025 at age 90, surrounded by loved ones. Her story is one of resilience, hope, and the power of turning personal loss into global impact. The center continues her mission, ensuring that her daughter’s wish lives on in every hatchling sprinting toward the waves.