A recently constructed school in Gainesville, a city in northeast Georgia, has been officially named Sandra Dunagan Deal Elementary School in memory of the state’s former first lady who passed away in 2022. The school’s inauguration took place this Monday, signaling the replacement of both White Sulphur and Riverbend Elementary Schools, which have been phased out of service.

Sandra Dunagan Deal, who lost her battle with cancer at the age of 80, held the role of first lady alongside her husband, former Governor Nathan Deal, from 2011 to 2019. During her time in office, Mrs. Deal emphasized the importance of childhood literacy, demonstrated a servant’s heart, and exhibited compassionate care for all individuals, leaving a lasting legacy that will echo through the corridors of the new school and within the hearts of the local students and families.

The Hall County School District expressed sentiments on its Facebook page, stating, “Mrs. Deal’s advocacy for childhood literacy, her servant’s heart, and her compassion for all, is a legacy that will live on in the halls of the new school and in the hearts of the students and families of the community.”

Prior to her tenure as first lady, Sandra Dunagan Deal served as an educator in Hall County for over 15 years. One of her notable accomplishments during her time in office was achieving her goal of reading to schoolchildren in all 159 counties, 181 Georgia school districts, and numerous prekindergarten classes, culminating in visits to over 1,000 schools across the state.