**Arkansas Mourns: Terri Lynn Womack, Pillar of Family and Community, Passes at 68**
Arkansas lost a beloved figure on Sunday, January 18, 2026, with the passing of Terri Lynn Williams Womack, wife of U.S. Rep. Steve Womack (R-AR). She was 68 years old. Womack passed peacefully at Circle of Life Hospice in Bentonville after a brief illness, reportedly related to abdominal cancer. Her death comes just days after a moment of joy for the family, following President Trump’s January 15 commutation of her son James Phillip Womack’s federal drug sentence—a reprieve that allowed for a final family reunion.
Born on November 2, 1957, in DeWitt, Arkansas, Terri Womack was a lifelong Arkansan whose roots in the community ran deep. A proud graduate of DeWitt High School, she later attended the University of Arkansas before marrying Steve Womack on August 4, 1984. The couple shared 41 years of marriage, built on mutual love, faith, and service to family and community. Together they raised three sons and were blessed with four grandchildren.
Terri dedicated over 35 years to the Northwest Arkansas court system, serving as chief clerk and case coordinator before retiring in 2019. Known for her meticulous work ethic and warm demeanor, she was deeply respected by colleagues and community members alike. Outside the office, Terri had a passion for landscaping, cooking, and caring for pets—always placing family and service above herself.
Rep. Womack, expressing the family’s grief, said, “Sunday afternoon, Heaven welcomed an angel. My wife of 41 years, Terri Womack, went to live in eternity with Jesus. My heart is broken and that space remains without her presence. I take comfort in knowing she is no longer suffering in pain and is at peace evermore. Her legacy of love will live in the hearts of all who knew her.”
Arkansas leaders quickly joined in mourning. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders praised Terri’s unwavering support for her husband’s public service, noting, “Steve’s public service in the National Guard, as mayor of Rogers, and as a congressman would not have been possible without the incredible, steadfast support that Terri provided. My prayers are with Steve, the Womack’s three sons and grandchildren, and all who knew and loved Terri.”
Former Lt. Gov. Leslie Rutledge added, “She was a steadfast partner in her husband’s dedicated service, and Terri’s grace, strength, and compassion inspired all who knew her.” U.S. Rep. French Hill echoed those sentiments, calling Terri “a kind, gracious, and faithful presence in the lives of so many, and a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother who cared deeply for her family and her community.”
Even U.S. Sen. John Boozman recognized the void left by her passing: “Cathy and I join so many other Arkansans in mourning the loss of Terri Womack, and send our love and condolences to Steve and their entire family. Her deep devotion to them and their community leaves an immense void not only among her loved ones, but throughout Northwest Arkansas. We’re praying for an outpouring of comfort and peace during this difficult time.”
Terri Lynn Womack’s life was defined by devotion: to her family, her faith, and her community. Her passing leaves a gap not only in the hearts of her loved ones but in the wider Arkansas community she quietly helped sustain. While mourned deeply, her legacy of love, service, and steadfast support will continue to inspire all who knew her.
Her family has asked that those wishing to honor her memory do so through prayers, acts of kindness, or service to others—continuing the selfless example she embodied throughout her life.
