Georgia College alumna Sandra Deal always an advocate for education

Aug. 29—Georgia College & State University provided Sandra Deal with her background and training in formal education. The Milledgeville campus also helped, during her time as First Lady of Georgia, cement her legacy.

Mrs. Deal, 80, passed away Tuesday after a battle with cancer at the home she shared with former Gov. Nathan Deal in Demorest.

"Georgia College & State University (GCSU) is deeply saddened by the tremendous loss of alumna Mrs. Sandra Dunagan Deal," said president Cathy Cox in a statement issued by the school Wednesday. "Mrs. Deal earned her B.S. ('63) and M.Ed. ('66) in elementary education from GCSU, then named The Woman's College of Georgia.

"Mrs. Deal embodied the highest aspirations of Georgia College & State University. As a former language arts teacher, Mrs. Deal understood the impact education has on the lives of her fellow Georgians and worked tirelessly to promote reading as the pathway to student achievement and lifelong success. When given a platform as Georgia's First Lady, she dedicated herself to modeling the civic virtues of literacy, volunteerism, and community service."

In 2017, the Deals were in Milledgeville for the ribbon cutting at the new Georgia Center for Early Language and Literacy. This was a part of the Governor's vision for boosting educational opportunities for the state's students at the beginning of their development. The goal was providing professional training for elementary school teachers.

When the sign was unveiled, much to Mrs. Deal's surprise the sign read, 'Sandra Dunagan Deal Center for Early Language and Literacy.'

"As her alma mater, GCSU was pleased that the Georgia General Assembly opened the Sandra Dunagan Deal Center for Early Language and Literacy in 2017 on the GCSU campus to carry on Mrs. Deal's legacy and commitment to advancing childhood literacy programs across the state of Georgia. The university benefited greatly from Mrs. Deal's support and service to the Governing Board of the Sandra Dunagan Deal Center and the GCSU Foundation Board of Trustees. Georgia College & State University is honored to carry on her legacy by serving future generations of Georgians with the same servant's heart that Mrs. Deal so eloquently modeled for GCSU faculty, staff, students, and alumni."

"If they have a purpose and a love for learning and a job to look forward to they wouldn't be into all these things," Mrs. Deal said at the ceremony, referring to young people dropping out of school and getting in trouble with the law. "Learning to read and having a love of learning just opens the doors and makes life possible and great and closes the doors to some of the problems we deal with... If we're going to conquer these problems, education to me is the key and that takes people one-on-one just getting out there and doing what they can to try to help. That's what I want to do just as long as I can. I'll be out there trying my best to help."

During her time as First Lady, Mrs. Deal read to students in every county and school district across Georgia.

"Her generosity of spirit ensured not only that she was beloved by her students, but also an influential force in their lives, leaving an imprint not just on their minds but also on their hearts," Gov. Brian Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp said in a joint statement. "She brought the same dedication and a refined spirit to her work as First Lady."

A statement from the University System of Georgia says, "She embodied the university system's mission of knowledge, and she especially embodied our ideal of applying knowledge through service. Whether it was co-writing a book about the Georgia Governor's Mansion with Kennesaw State University faculty or serving on the Board of Trustees for Georgia College & State University, her alma mater, Mrs. Deal always answered the call of extraordinary service to higher education in this state. And she did so 'with a servant's heart.'"

Nathan Deal served as Governor of Georgia from 2011-2018.