News came in a brief announcement in the House of Representatives by Rep. Rick Austin that former State Senator Nancy Schaefer and her husband, Bruce, were dead. The House observed a moment of silence. GBI spokesman John Bankhead confirmed that his agency was investigating the deaths which apparently were not from natural causes. ” Nancy Schaelfer was a great lady, and she served Georgia and her constituents with honor and grace,” Austin told the House. The Schaefers were parents of five children. The family moved to Habersham County in North Georgia after living in Atlanta for 35 years. She was a former candidate for Mayor of Atlanta and was the Republican nominee for lt. governor in 1994. Funeral services for Bruce and Nancy Schaefer, 74 & 73 respectively will be held on Wednesday in Toccoa. The GBI said evidence at the scene suggests Mrs. Schaefer was shot while asleep and she was found with a bullet in her back. Both were found in their bed, the gun lying near Mr. Schaefer.
