Mary Jo Codey

Mary Jo Codey is a school teacher who served as First Lady of New Jersey from November 16, 2004 to January 17, 2006. She is the wife of former New Jersey Governor Richard Codey.

Mrs. Codey is a reading teacher in the public schools and continued teaching part time during her service as First Lady. As First Lady, she has been known for her work on mental health, postpartum depression, and breast cancer. Mrs. Codey became First Lady following her husband's succession to the governorship, after former Gov. James McGreevey resigned.

Mrs. Codey suffered from postpartum depression following the birth of her oldest son. She said she did not get over it until a year after her son's birth. She controlled the illness with medication, which she stopped using during her second pregnancy. To combat the depression during her pregnancy she underwent electroshock therapy. She received electroshock again while suffereing from breast cancer.

Mrs. Codey has said that while she enjoyed the opportunity to be First Lady and to advocate for causes she believed in, she was looking forward to her husband leaving office in order to return to being a private citizen.