Encouraged by a friend, Deanna Harless first came to UCC in 2001. Not considering herself “religious” but interested in metaphysics and quantum physics, she thought she might not like going to church. She couldn’t have been more wrong. “I cried happy tears,” she says, “here, they spoke my language.” She recalls three memorable benefits from Leddy’s lesson that Sunday: affirmations, scripture reading, and even wisdom from the Torah. And, the music ministry “topped it off.”
Deanna’s love of Unity is a predictable outgrowth of her late mother’s inspiring her children to always seek Truth, to follow their own spiritual paths. She and her three brothers were given “free reins” by her loving and optimistic example, Deanna says.
Born in Columbia, MD, Deanna came with her family at age 2 to Palmetto. They moved to Pinellas County before she entered first grade. She graduated Pinellas Park High School in 1996 and, at St. Petersburg College, took courses of personal interest—education, sociology, psychology and dance. Deanna loved tap, jazz and contemporary dance. She loves it still. “Whether a good or bad time, there’s always a dance for it,” she says.
In 2010, Deanna experienced encephalitis, complicated by short term memory loss. Familiar patterns evolved into new ways of living and working. While the one-time Scrabble enthusiast doesn’t play that game anymore, her “new normal” is “pretty good,” Deanna says. Her “old books became new again,” a positive development. Having worked in the hospitality industry, Deanna founded her own cleaning company, Fresh and Pure Green Housekeeping, an environmentally friendly company in which she takes great pride. Relying only on word of mouth references, her company serves all of Pinellas County and even a few places in Pasco and Hillsborough.
Balancing her work week, Deana enjoys reading and attending musical events. Deepak Chopra, Louise Hay and Maya Angelou are beloved authors, and her favorite Beatle is John Lennon (her mother said it was because he wore rose colored glasses which fit with Deanna’s Pollyanna perspective.) She’s not a huge TV fan, but, unsurprisingly, does watch “So You Think You Can Dance.” She likes the quiet relaxation of coloring but is also physically very active, adept at that excellent form of exercise, hula hooping. She finds it good for meditation, a perfect start for a new day. Hooping barefoot on the grass, “I like to face East so I can watch the sunrise over me,” she says.
Also very close to her heart is Unity Church of Clearwater. She has practiced with the choir, taken classes for enrichment, served as nominating committee chairperson for board candidates and goes to WINGS regularly. Since 2016, she has worked with the YOUth Ministry, where she has found even more Joy.
Deanna’s brothers live in St. Petersburg, Tennessee and South Carolina; her close friends and a godson are in Georgia, and, at home, completing her happy household with her best friend David, is a fat, 8-year-old, “ well loved” orange tabby named Sugar Bear.