When Grant Dansby, new member of Unity’s Board of Directors, is asked “where are you from,” he’s likely to answer “the world.” Having been born into a military family, he was blessed to have lived in Greece, Japan and many states before moving to Orlando in 1968. Eventually, his family moved to Colorado where he graduated high school.
Grant says he felt at home everywhere he went. He has had many different jobs in the states he’s lived—worked in a grain elevator, a bird seed plant, a laundry, was a shoe department manager, sold magazines door to door and worked in a carnival long enough to be called a “carny.” In 1984, he started his own carpet cleaning business, and, in 2008, he began repairing and refinishing furniture. Today, the owner of MasterTech Furniture Repair in Largo, he is certified by The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration, (IICRC) as a Master Textile Technician. He is also certified as a wood and leather repair technician by Mohawk and Leather Master, respectively. Through his certification, Grant has joined an exclusive group of fewer than 100 Master Furniture techs in all of Florida.
In 1989, Grant came to the Tampa area. Here, his daughter Camille was born. ”I determined to give her something I never really had. Roots,” Grant says. “I made a commitment to give her the chance to know fellow students from first grade through graduation from high school.” Also wanting Camille to have a church home, Grant joined Unity of Tampa, where he served on the Board of Directors for two years. What he was looking for, a knowing of Spirit’s presence in his life, he eventually found at UCC in 2006.
Because he loves to sing, Grant joined the UCC choir. Under Sue Riley’s leadership, he discovered an exciting experience. A journey to Unity Village with Sue and others for a Sound Connections and Posi Week “changed my life,” Grant says. As well as soaking up the workshops and the music, I went walking in the woods of that magical place, and communing with the deer in the early morning made a mark on my soul.”
In February 2017, Grant married Jocelyn, “the love and light of my life” at the Tampa Posi Music Fest. The couple was married by Leddy and enjoyed the special blessing of Sloan Wainwright singing “Live out the Best of Your Life.”
Looking back “to what locked me into this church,” Grant credits the music. “With people like Greg Tamblyn, JD and Jan, Sloan, Daniel Nahmod, Tom Kimmel and all the marvelous souls that come to share their positive and loving music, you will always find me here at Unity of Clearwater.” Approaching his new position on the Board, he says, “I am excited about the opportunity to get to know even more of our congregation and to find ways to make sure there is always a place for Spirit to grow.”