Mary Anita Thigpen Perry (born May 5, 1952) is an American nurse who was the longest-serving First Lady of Texas, being in that role from 2000 to 2015.

[2] In 2008, the Anita Thigpen Perry School of Nursing at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center was renamed in her honor.

Her father had a distinguished flight record in World War II and earned several medals, including the Bronze Star.

[4] She worked in the nursing profession for more than 17 years, including surgery, pediatrics, intensive care, administration, and teaching[3] and as a consultant.

[8] Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center renamed its nursing school in Perry's honor on August 22, 2008, and two nursing endowments are also set up in her name: the Anita Thigpen Perry Nursing Excellence Scholarship at West Texas A&M University[9] and the Anita Thigpen Perry Endowment at the University of Texas at San Antonio.