I'm also Z8 but in the pacific northwest so planting and pruning may be different for you. Still, it seems early to be pruning and planting. Around here, people think I'm pushing it to prune on President's Day. I say, anytime from mid-Feb to mid-March. A rule of thumb: it's OK to prune when the forsythia blooms.

You also have to take your soil type into account. If you are gardening on Georgia clay you want to be careful not to dig and plant when the soil is very wet, as you will compact the soil with possibly fatal consequences for your plant's roots. I garden on sand and gravel which has its own problems, but it drains well. (Too well.)

I am in Columbia, SC and my roses are about where yours are. In this area, we use Valentine's Day as the start of pruning and planting. It's a good idea to give the roses a good rinse with lime sulphur after the prune to kill all the BS spores are hanging around.
I clean out the old leaves just to keep things neat but there are experts that disagree as to weather that is necessary to prevent BS if a spray routine is in place.

If the bareroots are calling to you, definitely purchase them ASAP (they dry out & croak if left in the store). Remember to soak them for several days before planting. If your garden bed is ready, go ahead and plant. If you purchase roses in a box, remove them from the box and soak like a bareroot.

I wouldn't put down mulch yet, I spread the first feeding before the mulch and its too early to feed.