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Featuring : Mary Perdue - First Lady of Georgia

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Even in midst of raising her own family, Mary and Sonny Perdue years ago

demonstrated  a passion for underprivileged children. After husband Sonny’s ascension

to the governorship, Mary turned that personal passion into an exciting unique

initiative, The First Lady’s ‘Our Children’s Campaign’.  

Thanksgiving week, Georgia’s first lady took the time from her busy schedule to

invite “Atlanta Christian Family Magazine” into the Governor’s Mansion. She openly

shared her faith with the people of Atlanta.

Mary Perdue is a woman of eloquent class, very charming with facial expressions

t hat could light a dark room. Soft spoken yet certain of her dialogue, she is quite

friendly and genuine. Petite in size, and you would never know by looking that she

is the proud grandmother of two.

In an hour of open, warm dialogue she talked about a variety of topics: Christian

marriage, child rearing, how her own deep faith worked for her through a recent bout

with cancer, and how her family has kept focused on the true meaning of Christmas.

But, at the outset the conversation turned quickly to her passion: children.

“It is a Scriptural mandate that we help needy children,” Mrs. Perdue offered with

obvious sincerity. And, Mrs. Perdue’s ‘Our Children’s Campaign’ isn’t just political

window dressing. The initiative is based on the real experience of the Perdues as foster

parents. Over the years, even while rearing four children of their own, Mr. and Mrs. Perdue

opened their home several times to newborn babies waiting for a family of their own.

Today Mrs. Perdue’s pet project inspires volunteerism across the state—a collaborative

effort teaming faith-based organizations, individuals and corporations, all with the goal

of addressing the needs of people in their community.

“For many, becoming a foster parent is not feasible. But, being involved as a

volunteer is something we can all do,” Mrs. Perdue continued. “I never knew God would

allow this tremendous opportunity to be first lady of Georgia. Now, instead of taking in a

few foster children, I can work on behalf of all of the foster children in the entire state!”

she added with obvious enthusiasm. “This is such an opportunity to be a witness, and

with our faith being so much of who we are, we plan to use this opportunity to be a

blessing to as many people as we can,” the first lady concluded.

Sonny and Mary Perdue first met on the campus of the University of Georgia.

“There was something different about him, he wasn’t like the other college boys. He told

me early in our relationship that he believed everything that was in the Bible was true.

He was very grounded and that was very attractive to me,” the first lady recalled fondly.

Now married thirty-two years, Mrs. Perdue offered that Georgia’s first couple is as

“in love” today as they ever were. She recognizes that often when couples become

parents, their children become the focus of the relationship and the marriage inevitably

suffers. The first lady was quick to give counsel. “Our marital relationship was always

the top priority. Yes, the children were a blessing to us. But Sonny and I kept our

relationship  as the top priority in our family, never losing sight of our own closeness.”

Realizing the tug between career and family, Mrs. Perdue clearly understands how

today’s women can become torn between the workplace and home. After graduating

from Georgia , while Sonny was stationed as an officer in the Air Force in Ohio, Mrs.

Perdue  earned a masters degree from Ohio State University in speech therapy. She then

started a career as a speech therapist, working with children at every grade level.

Mary Perdue’s career as a speech pathologist took a back seat, however, when

Sonny and she began a family. “My goal was always to be a wife and a mom, and I’m

thankful that the Lord allowed me to be both. One of the greatest blessings in my life

being was being able to stay home with my children for nineteen years,” Mrs. Perdue

recalled.

The Perdue’s four children are adults now, with families of their own. Yet for

younger Christian couples, she recognizes that it is difficult to bring up Christian

children in the modern world.

“Going to church is certainly an important part of raising Christian children,” Mrs.

Perdue acknowledges. “But the most important thing is that your children see that your

own faith is important to you every day. It’s easy to put on the ‘church face’ and

Sunday clothes, but until your children see that your faith is real every day, and a part

of every decision that you make, then faith will not be real to them.” she emphasized.

Maintaining a spiritual focus during the busyness of life can be daunting. Just

mastering half of our to do list could be considered success most days. For those who

seek God’s voice, taking time to listen can seem next to impossible as life races past at

full speed ahead. 

However, Mrs. Perdue agrees that being obedient to God’s call is ultimately where

you find the peace that surpasses all understanding. And, that stepping out of your

comfort zone is often where the greatest blessing awaits. Running for governor

certainly qualified for the Perdue’s as stepping outside of their comfort zone.

“For a child of God, the path of obedience is the path of joy and fulfillment and peace,”

Mrs. Perdue stated. “What He has for us is so much greater than what we think we

want.” Many Christians refer to “hearing from God”, while others never seem to hear

that distinctive voice. For Mrs. Perdue, hearing from God is a discipline. “I hear from

God when I am in prayer and spend time—not just pouring out my heart in asking

for what I want—but just waiting and listening. Our worlds are so busy that we need

to wait on God and rest. It’s also in those times where He knows I’m willing to be

obedient.”

But no matter how strong our faith, there are times when even that very foundation

is tested. For Mrs. Perdue that test came recently with the dreaded diagnosis of breast

cancer. Like many cancer victims, her initial response was that of shock, especially

because she did not have the normal risk factors.

Once over the initial shock, Mary Perdue relied on her faith. She sought God and the

strength of His power. “And then, I had what I call a drenching peace, probably within

the first hour,” she shared movingly. Even though the cancer was a surprise to the

first lady, she knew it was no surprise to God and she placed her trust in him.

Now, close to the end of her treatment, Mary Perdue’s health is excellent and she is

feeling very well. And, even though she feels strongly about taking the opportunity

to remind people to take care of their health and for women to get their routing

mammograms, still the first lady’s goal is to remain true to her passion, the children

of Georgia.  During the Christmas holidays many Christian families wrestle with how

to demonstrate the true meaning of Christmas, when children mostly anticipate

Santa’s first appearance and the chance to share their carefully written lists and

checking them twice.

For those Georgians, Mrs. Perdue offered simple, insightful advice. “We don’t focus

on Santa. The most important thing is not to worry about what we are giving or

getting, but finding someone to whom we can really minister,” she stated. “Some

of our most treasured memories are making shoeboxes for others, filling up gift

baskets to share, or giving some of their own gifts with those less fortunate. Its

not in getting, its in giving that keeps Christ in Christmas!”

Mrs. Perdue is an obviously refined, articulate woman full of warmth and sincerity.

Citizens of Georgia not only have a first lady, but also a real Ambassador for Christ

who represents them. From her lofty position, Mary works tirelessly for the needs

of others, certain of her call from God to serve others—not because of political

ambition, but because it is near to her heart.

To find out more about the Our Children’s Campaign, go to the website

at gov.state.ga.us