Can the notary also be a witness to the deed?

Absolutely.

Georgia law (O.C.G.A § 44-2-21) requires that deeds two witnesses, one of whom must be an official which includes notaries public. As a practice, almost all deeds recorded in Georgia have been signed in the presence of a notary public and one other witness.

A notary public cannot perform a notarial act when she is a party to the document to be signed, including the signer of the document. So the buyer and seller of a piece of real property cannot notarize their own deed. See OCGA § 45-17-8.

Besides a notary public, the “official witness” can be a consult or vice-consult of the United States (like at an embassy), a judge, a clerk of court and a justice of the peace. See OCGA §44-2-21(a).