Craighead-Benton County ArArchives Biographies.....Womack, J. P. 1871 - 
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Robert Sanchez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00027.html#0006574 May 30, 2009, 11:35 pm

Author: S. J. Clarke (Publisher, 1922)

J. P. WOMACK.
    Among the well known educators of Arkansas is J. P. Womack, superintendent
of the schools of Jonesboro. He was born at Centerton, Arkansas on the 25th of
July, 1871, a son of James W. and Elizabeth Jane (Gamble) Womack. The father,
who is now in his seventieth year, is living retired in Centerton. He was for
many years engaged in farming near that point and achieved more than gratifying
success. He was born in Tennessee and located in Centerton with his parents when
a boy of six years. The Womacks were among the pioneer settlers of that
community and Richard Womack, grandfather of our subject, built the first church
at that point, of Methodist denomination. In 1868, in Centerton, was celebrated
the marriage of James W. Womack to Miss Elizabeth Jane Gamble, whose demise
occurred in 1916. She was horn and reared in Arkansas, her parents having come
from Northern Alabama and located near Centerton at an early day. Grandfather
Alex G. Gamble served as assessor of Benton county for many years. To the union
of Mr. and Mrs. Womack, nine children were born, five boys and four girls. All
are living except one boy who died in infancy. J. P., whose name initiates this
review, was the second in order of birth.

    In the acquirement of an education J. P. Womack attended Pea Ridge Academy
at Pea Ridge, Arkansas, and later Rogers Academy at Rogers, this state. He spent
three years at the State University, studying for the A. B. degree, having
received the L. I. certificate from that institution in 1902. He was thirty-two
years of age at the time the A. B. degree was conferred upon him. His higher
education was acquired by working his way through college. He went to high
school after his marriage and taught school for seven years to obtain enough
money to begin his college career. In 1903 he went to Stephens, Arkansas, as
principal of the school, there, a position in which he was active until 1909,
when he became superintendent of the Magnolia schools. For four years he
remained in that place. At the termination of that time he removed to Conway and
was superintendent of the schools at that point until 1917. In that year he came
to Jonesboro and has been active in educational circles here since. He is now
serving his sixth consecutive year as superintendent of the local schools. He
has won for himself a prominent place among the educators in Arkansas, for since
coming here he has doubled the attendance of the high school and placed it in
the Southern Association of Schools and Colleges. The high school has a normal
attendance of four hundred. The school term has also been lengthened from eight
to nine months. During the five years, 1913-18, Mr. Womack attended the summer
sessions of the Peabody College and he received the M. A. degree from that
institution in 191S. In 1912 he was president of the State Teacher's Association
and he is director for Arkansas of the National Moral Educational Association.
He is a member of the education commission of the North Arkansas conference,
secretary of the Board of Education of the North Arkansas conference, and has
been delegate to the General Conferences of the Methodist Church, South.

    On the 21st of May, 1891, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Womack to Miss
Lottie Belle Lee, a daughter of James C. Lee, a prominent resident of Pea Ridge.

    Since age conferred upon Mr. Womack the right of franchise he has been a
stanch supporter of the democratic party and the principles for which it stands.
Fraternally he is identified with the Masons, holding membership in Conway
Lodge, A. F. & A. M. and Conway chapter, Royal Arch Masons. Mr. Womack is a
consistent member of the Methodist church and active in all church and Sunday
school work. He is lay leader, steward and a teacher in the Sunday school. He is
an accredited Sunday school teacher, having received his training under the
supervision of the general Sunday School Board of the Methodist Episcopal
church. During the World war Mr. Womack gave generously of his time and money in
promoting his government's interests and as one of the Four-Minute men made many
speeches throughout the county. There is no movement for the development and
improvement of the general welfare which seeks Mr. Womack's aid in vain and he
is readily conceded to be one of the most public-spirited and substantial
citizens of Jonesboro and Craighead county.


Additional Comments:

Citation:
Centennial History of Arkansas
Volume II
Chicago-Little Rock: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company
1922


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