Terri Lynn Williams Womack, the beloved wife of U.S. Representative Steve Womack (R-Ark.), passed away on Sunday, January 18, 2026, after a brief illness, leaving a profound void in the hearts of family, friends, and her community. She was 68. According to a statement released by Congressman Womack’s office, Terri spent her final moments at the Circle of Life Hospice in Bentonville, Arkansas, surrounded by her loved ones, experiencing peace and comfort in her final hours. In his public statement, Womack reflected on the depth of his grief while honoring the life and legacy of his wife. “Sunday afternoon, Heaven welcomed an angel. My wife of 41 years, Terri Womack, went to live in eternity with Jesus,” he said, conveying both sorrow and the solace of faith. “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. Our family appreciates the outpouring of prayers and support. You have all honored her in such a special way, and we are eternally grateful.” These words capture the mixture of grief, reverence, and gratitude that the family felt during this profoundly difficult moment.

Terri Womack’s passing occurred just days after a significant event in the life of her family. President Donald Trump had commuted the federal prison sentence of the couple’s son, James Phillip Womack, who had been serving an eight-year term for distributing more than five grams of methamphetamine. The Department of Justice confirmed the commutation through an Executive Grant of Clemency signed on January 15, 2026. A White House official told media outlets that Trump’s decision was influenced in part by James Womack’s good behavior during incarceration and by the family’s medical circumstances, which included Terri Womack’s recent diagnosis with abdominal cancer and health issues affecting another of the Womack sons. Rep. Womack publicly thanked the president for what he described as a “gracious and thoughtful act,” emphasizing that the clemency allowed the family to be together during a time of profound difficulty. In statements to Arkansas television stations KTHV and KNWA, Womack expressed his gratitude for the president’s personal attention to the family’s circumstances, highlighting a phone conversation between Trump and Terri Womack’s care team that had left a lasting impression. This intersection of personal loss and public developments underscored the complex realities that families in the public eye often navigate, blending personal hardship with national attention.

James Womack’s legal circumstances had been closely followed in the public record. Court filings indicate that he was sentenced in May 2024 to eight years in federal prison, along with a $1,900 fine, after pleading guilty to charges of methamphetamine distribution. The commutation significantly reduced his sentence, allowing him to be with his family during a time of crisis, though five years of supervised release remain in place. The timing of the clemency, coming just days before his mother’s death, added a layer of emotional complexity for the Womack family. While some news coverage highlighted the proximity of these events, there is no verified evidence suggesting any causal link between the clemency and Terri Womack’s passing. Rather, the concurrence of these events serves as a reminder of the often-overlapping pressures of public service, personal hardship, and family care that can weigh heavily on those who live in the spotlight. The story of James Womack’s sentence and its commutation is illustrative not only of the federal justice system’s processes but also of the human dimensions that underscore every legal decision—where consequences ripple across families, communities, and personal relationships.

Terri Womack was born on November 2, 1957, in DeWitt, Arkansas. She graduated from DeWitt High School and later attended the University of Arkansas, where she developed the skills and values that would define her life of service and family dedication. On August 4, 1984, she married Steve Womack, and together they raised three sons, building a home rooted in faith, community, and mutual support. Terri dedicated more than 35 years to public service within Arkansas’s court system, serving as chief clerk and case coordinator before her retirement in 2019. Friends and colleagues described her as a diligent and compassionate public servant whose dedication extended beyond professional duty into a lifelong commitment to supporting her husband’s career in both local and national politics. Whether quietly working behind the scenes or providing counsel and encouragement to her family, Terri’s influence was pervasive, shaping not only the Womack household but also leaving an indelible mark on the communities she served. Her combination of professional diligence and personal devotion positioned her as a pillar of strength, whose absence is felt profoundly by those who knew her.

Rep. Steve Womack has represented Arkansas’s 3rd Congressional District since 2011, serving on the House Appropriations Committee, previously chairing the House Budget Committee, and enjoying a career that spans decades of public service. Before Congress, Womack served as mayor of Rogers, Arkansas, and retired as a colonel from the Arkansas Army National Guard after 30 years of service. Terri Womack’s support was widely acknowledged as a cornerstone of his career. Her passing prompted heartfelt condolences from political leaders across the state. Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders expressed her sorrow, highlighting Terri’s decades of public service and the partnership she shared with her husband. “Bryan and I are mourning the loss of Terri Womack, Congressman Womack’s wife of more than 40 years,” Sanders said. “She and Steve were true partners and institutions in their hometown of Rogers and across Northwest Arkansas, and her loss will be felt throughout our state. 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.” Other members of Congress echoed similar sentiments, with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) describing Terri as someone whose “quiet faith and enduring kindness left a mark on everyone who met her.” These acknowledgments illustrate not only Terri Womack’s personal impact but also the profound intersection of family, politics, and public service that defined her life.

Terri Womack’s death represents the closing of a remarkable chapter of personal and public life, a four-decade partnership with Steve Womack that paralleled his long career of service. From his early years in the Arkansas Army National Guard to his tenure as mayor and eventual leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives, Terri’s unwavering support, counsel, and presence provided stability, guidance, and grace. Her passing, coming shortly after her son’s clemency and amid ongoing health challenges for other family members, sparked an outpouring of condolences from across Arkansas’s political spectrum, reaffirming the respect, admiration, and affection held for her. While funeral arrangements remain pending, the narrative of her life—a combination of dedication to family, professional service, and community engagement—serves as a lasting example of personal integrity and compassionate commitment. Terri Womack’s story reminds us that behind every public figure are family members whose quiet strength enables, shapes, and sustains public service, and that their contributions, while sometimes unseen, resonate profoundly throughout communities, leaving legacies that endure far beyond their lifetimes.