Former Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal tied the knot—literally and symbolically—with Brenda Micali on Saturday in a small ceremony in Arnoldsville, east of Athens, the AJC reports. At the end of the vows, the couple held a long rope surrounded by guests and “tied the knot,” prompting laughter as Deal cracked a joke during the moment.
The ceremony marked a joyful new beginning for Deal, whose first wife, Sandra, died in 2022. Her legacy as a champion for literacy still shapes his life.
Deal and Micali connected after both lost longtime partners—hers, Tommy, had been one of Deal’s fraternity brothers. A call about using one of Tommy’s favorite sayings in Deal’s book sparked a relationship built on shared loss and mutual understanding.
“It took compassion and patience,” said Deal’s daughter, Carrie. “And a lot of courage from Dad.” She added, “Mom would’ve wanted him to be happy.”
Family and friends say the couple brings each other peace. “It’s never too late to fall in love,” Carrie said. “We are thrilled, she is lovely and most importantly, Dad is happy.”
