COOL! You are most fortunate to actually see the female in the wild. I only saw it once (after I reared the larva, it formed a cocoon with its hairs, and she eclosed). Fortunately, I had taken a photo of the larva, otherwise it would have been identified (from the photo) as the White-Marked Tussock (Orgyia leucostigma) by the experts. There is another species in our area, the Rusty Tussock (O. antiqua), where the female is also wingless. Who knows how many Orgyias you have in Georgia? So, without seeing the larva, I would say it would be difficult to make a positive ID. Perhaps there's an expert in your area who knows more about these moths than I do. Good luck! What a great observation on your part.