Shana Ledet Qualls

June 27, 1953 ~ July 12, 2022

ABBEVILLE — Shana Ledet Qualls, a resident of Maurice, Louisiana, passed away on July 12, 2022, at 69 years of age. Visitation will be held at Vincent Funeral Home in Abbeville, 209 S. St. Charles St., on Sunday, July 17 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. with a rosary being prayed at 6:30 p.m. Visitation at Vincent Funeral Home will continue on Monday, July 18 at 8 a.m., with funeral service at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church at 11 a.m. An undoubtedly lively reception will immediately follow the church service in the lobby at Abbey Players Theatre.
Shana was born on June 27, 1953, in Newport News, Virginia to Minus Pierre and Marianne Curtis Ledet. Shana was the fourth of five children and had unique relationships with each of her siblings, Jean, Brian, Kevin, and Ulyssa. Her family moved around a great deal during her childhood due to her father’s military service, including a time she cherished when they were stationed on Okinawa Island, Japan. They eventually made their way back to Chalmette, Louisiana, where she graduated from Andrew Jackson High School in 1971.
Shana began her college journey at Nicholls State University in Thibodeaux, Louisiana. Her college career was cut short by her insatiable desire to have as much fun and do as much theatre as humanly possible. Her passion for theatre led her to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where she married and started her family, eventually moving to her father’s hometown of Abbeville, Louisiana to be nearer to her parents.
Shana was involved with many theatre companies across the country over the course of her life, including an international tour of the musical Labor of Love in 1990, of which she was extremely proud and during which she established life-long friendships. Of all the places she worked, Abbey Players Theatre held her heart and was where she began the Children’s Theatre Guild in 1981. She was proud to serve on the board of directors at Abbey Players multiple times, over the course of many years, directing and acting in numerous plays and musicals that entertained many. It was a feather in her cap to direct her own children and grandchildren on the Abbey Players stage.
Shana was a teacher and speech coach who impacted the lives of hundreds of students at Vermilion Catholic High School, Kaplan High School, J.H. Williams Middle School, Erath High School, and Breaux Bridge High School. She also directed productions with Vermilion Players, a summer co-production put on among all public and private high schools in Vermilion Parish for a number of years.
After devoting her life to being a single mother for over fourteen years, Shana embarked on her wildest adventure yet - a move to Los Angeles to explore her acting career at the age of 52. She lived in L.A. for five years, working in Marketing and Consumer Products at Universal Studios, while still having as much fun and doing as much theatre as humanly possible!
Of all of her accomplishments in life, Shana was most proud of her four children and six grandchildren. Nothing brought her greater joy than holding court around a dining table at a holiday dinner. She was a stellar cook, a creative spirit, and an adopter of lost souls. There was rarely a time when Shana didn’t have someone who needed a helping hand living with her and her family. She had open arms, an open heart, and an open door at all times. She will be dearly missed by all who knew her.
Shana is survived by her children, Evona Qualls (John Perry), Victoria (Ken) Atkins, Etienna (Peter) Wright, and Cramer Qualls; grandchildren, Adella Perry, Cecilia Atkins, Vance Atkins, Claudia Wright, Samuel Wright, and Benjamin Wright; her siblings, Kevin (Marcia) Ledet, and Ulyssa Ledet; five nieces; four nephews; ten great nieces; and seven great nephews.
Shana was preceded in death by her four grandparents; her parents, Minus and Marianne Ledet; her brothers, Jean and Brian Ledet; and her brother and sister who died in infancy, Loren Ledet and Evona Ledet.
Shana’s family would like to thank the staff and administration at Pelican Pointe Healthcare and Rehabilitation for their care and compassion during their time with the Pelican Pointe family.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Abbey Players Theatre at 200 S. State St., Abbeville, LA 70510, or by donating online at https://www.abbeyplayers.com/.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.vincentfuneralhome.net.
All funeral arrangements are being conducted by Vincent Funeral Home of Abbeville, (337) 893-4661.