Lea H. Qualey

Lea Holt Qualey passed away on the morning of July 5, 2017, at Roper Hospital when sudden complications from a stroke quietly ended her life. Lea was born in 1930 in Conway, SC one of four children. She studied business at Winthrop College, moved to Charleston seeking employment, found it at the State Port Authority, where she also found her future spouse, John P. (Jack) Qualey. They shared a great love and even more, a mutual belief in extending familial love well beyond their immediate offspring. A steady stream of “extras” found their way into the Qualey home – exchange students, a lonely Citadel cadet, a troubled teen, two nephews and a niece joined the ever expanding family and shared in the love. It was a remarkable marriage of 41 years. Following her husband’s passing, Lea expanded her outreach to many great friends while simultaneously rejoicing in the love of her family and the arrivals of grandchildren and even great-grandchildren. She was so proud of them all.  Lea’s major achievements were a long and loving marriage, a business career that brought great personal satisfaction and many friends, and then a richly rewarding retirement in which she reveled in good times and travels with friends and family. She volunteered for a number of causes, and keeping her considerable intelligence stimulated with her reading group and playing a wicked poker game on a weekly basis. She lived a good life.Lea was preceded in death by her husband, Jack; her son Jim; her daughters, Gwen Kelley and Judy Bevon, and John and Mary Qualey, a nephew and niece who had joined the Charleston Qualey clan many years ago. Lea is survived by her sons, Jack Qualey (Jana) and Joe Qualey (Heidi); her daughters, Regina Keating (Cletus) and Jennifer French (Tommy); twelve grandchildren, and eight great grandchildren; her brothers, Jason Holt (Tricia) and Jim Holt (Elva). The family wishes to express gratitude and love to all of Lea’s friends who enjoyed her company and looked after her with kindness. Special thanks go to Sylvia Ann Wade Capers, CNA extraordinaire, who brought new joy to Lea in the last year of her life. The relatives and friends of Lea H. Qualey are invited to attend her Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 AM, Tuesday, July 11, 2017, at the Cathedral of St John the Baptist, 120 Broad St. The family will host a reception, following the service, at the Hibernian Hall, 105 Meeting St.In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation, in her name, to a charity of your choice that focuses on the needs of families.