Republican’s Wife Dies Shortly After Trump Commuted Sentence of Their Son
Terri Lynn Williams Womack, the wife of longtime Arkansas Congressman Steve Womack (R), passed away Sunday following a brief illness, according to an announcement from the congressman’s office. She was 68. Womack said his wife died at Circle of Life Hospice in Bentonville, surrounded by family and close friends.
“Sunday afternoon, Heaven welcomed an angel. My wife of 41 years, Terri Womack, went to live in eternity with Jesus,” Womack said. “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.”
Her passing came just days after President Donald J. Trump, now serving his second term, commuted the federal prison sentence of the Womacks’ son, James Phillip Womack. James had been serving an eight-year sentence for distributing more than five grams of methamphetamine. The Department of Justice confirmed the commutation in an Executive Grant of Clemency signed by President Trump on Jan. 15.
A White House official told USA Today that the president considered James Womack’s conduct while incarcerated as well as the family’s serious medical circumstances — including Terri Womack’s recent diagnosis of abdominal cancer and health challenges affecting another of the couple’s sons.
Rep. Womack publicly expressed gratitude to President Trump, describing the decision as compassionate and deeply personal.
“The commutation has allowed my son to be with his family during a profoundly difficult time, and the President’s phone conversation with my wife and her care team made an impression that I’ll cherish forever,” Womack said in a statement provided to Arkansas television stations KTHV and KNWA.
According to court records, James Womack was sentenced in May 2024 in federal court to eight years in prison and a $1,900 fine after pleading guilty to methamphetamine distribution. While the commutation reduced his prison time, it left intact five years of supervised release.
Terri Womack was born Nov. 2, 1957, in DeWitt, Arkansas. She graduated from DeWitt High School and later attended the University of Arkansas. She married Steve Womack on Aug. 4, 1984, and together they raised three sons.
She devoted more than three decades to public service within Arkansas’s court system, serving as a chief clerk and case coordinator before retiring in 2019. Those who worked alongside her described her as meticulous, dependable, and deeply committed to serving her community. Throughout her husband’s political career, she was known as a steady and faithful presence behind the scenes.
Rep. Womack has represented Arkansas’s 3rd Congressional District since 2011 and currently serves on the House Appropriations Committee. He previously chaired the House Budget Committee, served 30 years in the Arkansas Army National Guard — retiring as a colonel — and spent 12 years as mayor of Rogers prior to entering Congress.
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders issued a statement honoring Terri Womack’s life and legacy.
“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.”
Members of Congress from across the country also shared condolences online. Several Republican lawmakers referred to Terri Womack as “a pillar of grace and strength,” while House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said her “quiet faith and enduring kindness left a mark on everyone who met her.”
Terri Womack’s death closes a chapter on a four-decade marriage that closely mirrored her husband’s public service — from his early years in the Arkansas National Guard to his leadership roles in Rogers and the U.S. House of Representatives. Her passing, occurring amid significant family health struggles and just days after her son’s clemency, prompted an outpouring of sympathy from across Arkansas’s political and civic landscape.
Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.