Georgia is great! Try to get up in the north county, if you haven’t yet.
This is the right forum, you should get some expert advise.
Many will recommend a 12ga pump - Mossberg 500, $300+- or a Remington 870 for a few more bucks. You can run Dogpile for a comparison. Use a load that is not likely to go through walls.
Make sure your wife gets practice both outside and then walk through the house a number of times to be sure to quickly know in which direction not to fire the weapon (assuming there are or may be others in the house).
You are right, they both must practice. A pump action is easy to use, but you need to practice and get the feel for the action so that in pressure situations you can quickly eject a spent shell and load the next one.
I moved here from New Orleans after Katrina, I had just retired from the military and did not want my kids high school years to be scarred by Katrina the whole time. I love North Georgia, I go to Helen at least once a year during October Fest! (Current Middle Georgia resident)
Looks like the Remingtons is the tactical looking kind, while I like the look, I am pretty sure my wife was not thinking a military look, but I like it so that may make my decision!
I was marksman qualified on the M-16 while in the USAF, but I have never really used a shotgun myself and have no idea on the shells and loads. I have gotten some good research start points here to help me.
Does anyone know if Bass Pro Shop or Dicks Sporting Goods has competitve prices? or should I head straight for one of the local gun shops?