Who Is Nissa Burkhalter?

Nissa Burkhalter is the First Lady of the State of Georgia and wife of Governor Nathan Deal. Before she was First Lady, Nissa was a successful tax attorney who also works as a Certified Public Accountant. Nissa is committed to supporting several non-profit organizations including The Red Balloon, The Sybil VENDREEND Trust Fund at The Coca-Cola Foundation and The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). She has also been involved with multiple charitable events throughout her husband’s tenure as governor. This article will answer questions about Nissa and her husband Nathan, their marriage and how they met, their wedding date, kids, parents, education and career.

Who is Nathan Deal?

Nathan Deal is the former Governor of the State of Georgia. He was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina in 1943. He attended Davidson College and then attended law school at the University of Georgia. After law school, he spent time in the Army. He has been married to Nissa Burkhalter since 1994. They have one son, John and one daughter, Mary. He was elected Governor of Georgia in 2010. He served two terms and then retired from politics. He is currently the President and CEO of the Healthcare Association of Georgia.

Nissa and Nathan’s Marriage

Nissa and Nathan were married in 1994. Nissa met Nathan when she was working as a tax attorney in Atlanta. Nathan was working as a state senator at the time. They were introduced by a mutual friend and had a long-distance relationship for several months. Nathan was married previously and had two adult children from his first marriage. Nissa and Nathan have one son, John, and one daughter, Mary. John graduated from Davidson College and Mary graduated from University of Georgia. John works as an attorney and Mary is pursuing a career in accounting.

Their Wedding Date

Nissa and Nathan were married on October 21, 1994. The couple was engaged in 1993 and chose a fall wedding date in October. Their wedding took place at The Tabernacle in Atlanta. The Tabernacle is a ministry of the United Church of Christ. Their wedding theme was autumn and the color scheme was burgundy and gold. Nissa wore a white, off-the-shoulder gown with a v-neckline and satin belt. Her bridal bouquet included burgundy and white flowers and she wore a gold bracelet.

Children

Nissa and Nathan have one son and one daughter together. John was born in 1995 and Mary was born in 1997. Nathan also has one son and one daughter from his previous marriage. William and Katherine have both graduated from college.

Parents

Nathan and Nissa’s parents were also married in 1994. Nathan’s parents are Alan and Abigail Deal. They live in Savannah, Georgia. Abigail worked as an attorney and is now retired. Alan was an attorney and insurance agent and is now retired. He has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Nissa’s parents are Jack and Vicki Burkhalter. Jack was an attorney and is now retired. Vicki was a special needs teacher and is now retired. She has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s.

Nissa’s Education and Career

Nissa received a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Georgia in 1983. She then received a law degree from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1986. She became a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in 1990. She worked as a CPA for 10 years and then went on to become a tax attorney. Nissa was an Associate with the law firm of King and Spalding in Atlanta from 1993 to 1994. While working as an attorney, she still practiced as a CPA part-time. In 1994, she began working as a tax attorney for the accounting firm of Ernst and Young. She left Ernst and Young to work as a tax attorney for The Coca-Cola Company in 2000. She was a partner at that firm until her husband was elected Governor.

Conclusion

Nissa and Nathan have been married for 27 years. They have one son and one daughter. They met in Atlanta and have a long-distance relationship while Nathan was serving in the state senate. Nissa’s career has been varied and she has worked in accounting and as a tax attorney. She has received numerous awards and recognitions especially while serving as First Lady of Georgia. She has supported several non-profit organizations and charitable events throughout her husband’s tenure as governor.