Desmona Naomi Harris

DESMONA DALLIS HARRIS Desmona Naomi Dallis Harris, 56, passed away at her home in Upper Marlboro, MD on Sunday night, June 21, 2020. Desmona (affectionately known as Desi), a native Washingtonian, was born in Freedman’s Hospital (now Howard University Hospital) on July 27, 1963 to Omega Bowman Dallis and James Dallis. She was the youngest of four children, sister to Theresa T. Williams, Ozzalee “Pinky” Dallis, and James “Skip” Dallis. As a young child, she lived in the small town of Thomasville, North Carolina, with her grandparents, Naomi and Leroy Dallis Sr. Her grandparents were significant influences in her life; Desi honored and emulated their work ethic and perseverance in all aspects of her life. In her grade-school years, she attended Thomasville City Schools, whose Bulldog mascot paralleled that of her eventual alma mater of Georgetown. She always returned to her native Washington, DC for summer breaks, before moving back to DC in the mid-1970s to live with her mother and siblings in the Shaw District. Desi attended Shaw Junior High School and immediately showed her academic prowess, winning the DC Regional Spelling Bee Competition. A tenacious scholar, she was a member of the National Junior Honor Society and, in 1978, became the valedictorian for the first graduating class of the open-space school at Shaw's Rhode Island Avenue Campus. Desi attended McKinley Technical High School where she was inducted into the National Honor Society and was active in the Student Government Association. Following her graduation from McKinley in 1981, she attended Georgetown University (with entertainer/humanitarian Pearl Bailey and basketball legend Patrick Ewing as classmates). She graduated with a degree in Business Administration from the McDonough School of Business in 1985. Desi excelled not only academically but in sports as well. In high school, she was a member of the citywide Pom-Pom Squad and played baseball and basketball in the country with her cousins (earning the nickname “Tree”). She continued her cheering, sporting spirit at Georgetown, rooting for the Hoyas as they won the 1984 NCAA Basketball Championship. In later years, she enjoyed playing tennis and racquetball, and remained an enthusiastic, game-attending Washington football fan (regularly decked out in burgundy and gold). In keeping with her lifelong tenacity and intelligence, Desi passed the CPA exam on her first attempt, and earned her accounting license in 1986. As a committed and consummate accounting professional, Controller, and business executive, her successful career spanned 35 years with prestigious Washington, DC firms and for the past 15 years, Blake Real Estate. In addition to working incredibly long hours professionally, Desmona tirelessly volunteered her accounting skills as Treasurer of Mt. Carmel Christian Faith Center and helped countless families with tax preparation and financial assistance. Throughout her life, Desi’s perseverance, dedication, integrity, fairness, diplomacy and willingness to help were paramount. It was at the age of 19 that Desi met her future husband, Leslie Phillip “Felipe” Harris, Jr. (whom she lovingly called Les). Lifelong partners, they were married on October 2, 1993, the beginning of a wonderful, fun-loving marriage. Desi was the touchstone in Les’s heart and Les was the joy in Desi’s. A perfectly-suited couple, the two were constant companions and best friends for 37 years. Through good and bad, they kept faith in God at the center of their lives. They spent a lifetime supporting each other with their wisdom, laughter, tears and love. While not blessed with children of their own, they had the honor and joy of taking part in the upbringing of their nephews. They made their home in Northwest DC until 2016, when they built their dream home in the Parkside neighborhood of Upper Marlboro, MD. Desi and Les quickly became an integral part of their new community, making friends and hosting rockin’ parties in full festive attire for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve. As usual, wherever Desi went, people marveled over her fashionable sense of style which was only surpassed by her beautiful personality and spirit. As long as there was friendship, fun, laughter and dancing, Desi and Les were all-in! A true pink Warrior Princess, Desi was a nine-year survivor of Stage IV metastatic breast/lung cancer. She embodied incredible strength, courage and humanity in facing such a challenge. Inspirationally, she continued to live (and work) fully, while dealing with and pushing past the grueling side effects of ongoing treatments while dedicating herself to supporting the DC breast cancer community, even recruiting her friends, family and colleagues to join her in doing so. She was a member of GoPink!DC, the district’s only dragon boat team for women affected by breast cancer. She participated in multiple walks for Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. She faced this challenge in true Desi fashion, figuratively and literally (with a colorful personality, and clothes to match). She remained full of life (and style), not missing out on moments of joy and laughter. In 2010, with their “go-big-or-go-home” spirit, Desi (in a pink tutu) was supported by Les (donning a pink bra and full clown makeup and shoes), as she successfully completed the 60-mile course for the 3-Day for the Cure, camping out and raising thousands of dollars for breast cancer research and community programs. Subsequent medical challenges would soon become a lingering storyline in her all-too-short time on earth. As always, Desi met the challenges with courage, grace, dignity, selflessness, and that incredibly warm Desi-smile. Desi was a devoted Christian and a member of a non-denominational Zion Church, having accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior as a child. Desi continued her Bible study with the Zion Victory Small Ministries Group who met often to read and discuss fundamental principles of the Bible and applying them to everyday life. It was important to Desi to walk the walk (and she did!): volunteering often to help the Church Ministries with back-to-school supplies and feeding the homeless. Desi is predeceased by her parents, James and Omega Dallis, sisters Theresa Williams and Ozzalee Dallis, and grandparents, Naomi and Leroy Dallis Sr., and Lee and Lula Bowman. Loved by many, Desi leaves to mourn her passing her husband Les, her brother James “Skip” (Vernell) Dallis, brother-in-law Nathaniel “Nate” Williams, nephews OnYango (Ariella) Williams and Ricardo Dallis II, niece Jennifer Dallis, parents-in-law Ana (Angel) Aviles and Leslie Harris Sr., as well as a host of aunts and uncles, cousins, in-laws, great-nieces and great-nephews, and countless friends. ✿ ✿ ✿ Visitation (in moving rotation and guided by physical distancing) will be held at Marshall-March Funeral Home of MD, at 4308 Suitland Road, Suitland, MD 20746 on Saturday, July 18, 2020 from 9:30–10:30 AM EDT (www.MarshallMarchFH.com). A memorial service will follow immediately at the funeral home at 10:30 AM EDT, limited to 40 in-person attendees due to local pandemic guidelines. Family and friends attending are invited to celebrate Desi’s colorful spirit by wearing her favorite colors of pink and purple. Desmona will be laid to rest immediately following the service at National Harmony Memorial Park, 7101 Sheriff Road, Hyattsville, MD 20785. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the family encourages family and friends to not take unnecessary risks. The mass will be live streamed with details to follow on the funeral home’s website for family or friends that are unable to attend. In consideration for everyone’s health and well-being during the pandemic, there will not be a repast at this time. All attending the service are required to comply with local COVID-19 guidelines: WEARING FACE MASKS REQUIRED AT ALL TIMES, sanitize hands before entry, maintain six feet of distance between each other at all times (sitting or standing), avoid handshakes and hugging and physical contact. In the kind and generous spirit of our dearest Desi’s life, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Susan G. Komen National Capital at komennationalcapital.org, American Heart Association (at heart.org/en/affiliates/district-of-columbia/welcome-to-district-of-columbia), or, as Desi would say (and do), pay a little kindness forward to someone along the way:…maybe give some helpful advice to a young person (she’d love that), listen to a colleague (Desi’s door was always open), or treat a friend to lunch (while staying safe, of course; above all, she’d want people to take good care of and love themselves)…and then think of our Desi, and say a prayer in her great memory.During the COVID-19 pandemic, the family encourages family and friends to not take unnecessary risks. For family and friends unable to attend in person, the service will be live-streamed, accessible by clicking the following link: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the family encourages family and friends to not take unnecessary risks. For family and friends unable to attend in person, the service will be live-streamed, accessible by clicking the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81489606264?pwd=RU5OSEFSTkhrV2RtUzFKaGJmWG5CQT09. Enter Password: 324262 Or iPhone one-tap: US: +13017158592,,81489606264# or +13126266799,,81489606264# Or Telephone: Dial (for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): US: +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 646 558 8656 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 669 900 6833 Webinar ID: 814 8960 6264 International numbers available: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kd32qmhR6n In consideration for everyone’s health and well-being during the pandemic, there will not be a repast at this time.

Tributes

Desmona Naomi Harris

July 27, 1963 - June 21, 2020