“We came. We heard. We stayed,” says Deb Larkin of her 2015 introduction to UCC. Her father, then a snowbird, often walked by the church and suggested they try it. “We saw Janet Whedon (a teacher, whose classroom had been next to Deb’s) playing the drums. Leddy’s teaching, not preaching, resonated with both Dad and me. She grounded us and gave us peace.”
Deb would later find the mid-week prayer and meditation service with Judy “just the boost” she needed. She also enjoyed the camraderie with members on Service Saturdays, and, last March organized a successful bingo benefit night at Hamburger Mary’s in St. Petersburg. Now, she is “humbled” to be a candidate for Unity’s Board of Directors.
Born and raised in Norristown, PA, Deb lived there until she and her wife Carla moved to Florida in 2009. Coming to a warmer climate was easy and she wanted to be involved in her two-year-old nephew’s life, having cared for him over a holiday break. Carla was hired as a CFO for a non-profit, and Deb, a retired health and physical education teacher, became a prevention specialist at Morgan Fitzgerald Middle School.
Although her nephew moved with his family to Alabama, and Carla now works in Raleigh, NC as the CFO for Girl Scouts – North Carolina Coastal Pines, “God has a way of keeping me busy and providing me with a new family,” Deb says, referring to her dear friend, Gladys, who will turn 100 on April 6. Deb calls her “mom” and visits every day.
The United Church of Christ, where Deb and her parents were actively involved, provided strong roots, the preservation of warm memories, and a fitting preparation for the “divine intervention” of Unity: “I enjoyed my church, the congregation and many activities until the doors closed due to our minister’s retirement and small membership. I searched many years to find my new home church.”
Between traveling to Raleigh and visiting her 87-year old parents in PA, Deb works out almost every day and plays a little golf. Here, she has experienced memorable opportunities. A fan host for the Tampa Bay Rays, she caught a foul ball, bare handed, hit off the bat of Johnny Damon. She was a volunteer teacher at SOAR Montessori School in Palm Harbor and is the president of the board of Pinellas Youth Pride, an organization that financially assists the Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) clubs in Pinellas County schools. She also volunteers for the First Tee of St. Petersburg, helping youth to learn the game of golf and life skills.
Her next chapter, Deb says, “will depend on when my wife retires. When that day arrives, we plan to get a small RV and travel the U.S. We have met some fantastic people during 20 some odd years playing golf that we plan to visit and play a round of golf. “ Deb and Carla also plan to visit Unity Village and as many Unity churches as possible. They expect to retire in Clearwater, so UCC will always be near. “No matter where I roam or what direction life takes me,” Deb says, “I know through our Unity teachings, I’m never alone. God is always with me and God knows what I need.”