Former OKC First Lady Terri Cornett passes away after battle with cancer

Terri Cornett, former first lady of Oklahoma City and wife of former Mayor Mark Cornett, passed away Thursday after a battle with cancer.

Cornett was deeply passionate about serving the community, dedicating much of the past decade to working with Allied Arts OKC. She was a strong advocate for the arts, celebrating and supporting local creativity throughout the city.

Allied Arts posted the news on their social media page Thursday, saying:

Joining community, civic and cultural leaders across the state, the staff and board of Allied Arts profoundly mourns the loss of Terri Cornett. We had the great pleasure of working closely with Terri over the course of nearly 10 years. As Development Consultant for Allied Arts, Terri brought her sales and marketing acumen – along with her positive and kind spirit – to our fundraising efforts, elevating our donor management, prospecting and stewardship practices.

In addition to managing a significant donor portfolio representing $2 million in contributions and employee giving campaigns, Terri played an instrumental role in new and exciting endeavors for Allied Arts including: winning the national nonprofit fundraising challenge, Brackets for Good; facilitating partnerships with major local and national companies as well as celebrities; and securing a piece of public art in downtown Oklahoma City to commemorate the Allied Arts 50th anniversary.

We have sadly lost one of the most resolute and effective advocates for the arts in Oklahoma. In addition to her unrelenting passion and energy to champion on behalf of cultural, health and education causes, Terri was a friend to all – always sharing a genuine smile and her generous heart to anyone she encountered. We will miss Terri; the grace and compassion that she brought to Allied Arts cannot be replaced.

In a tribute on Facebook, Cornett’s daughter-in-law reflected on her legacy, saying, "Terri poured her heart and soul into everything she touched... Her impact will be felt for generations to come, and we will miss her deeply."

Funeral arrangements have not yet been made public. We will share those details as they become available.