Lori L. Burrows, age 47

Lori L. Burrows, a kind and passionate force for good, passed away on March 24, 2023, in Little Rock, Arkansas, after a courageous battle with cancer. She was a spirited leader, dedicating her life to empowering others and creating a lasting impact on her community through her work, philanthropy, and advocacy. She was a shining star who brought light to everyone she encountered.

Lori’s life was marked by a relentless pursuit of knowledge and personal growth. A lifelong Central Arkansas resident, she grew up in the Salem community and attended schools in nearby Bryant before enrolling at the University of Central Arkansas (UCA), where she graduated with a B.A. in Speech Communications. After college, she spent two years serving in the Peace Corps in Pohnpei, Micronesia, before returning home and earning her J.D. with Honors from the UA Little Rock Bowen School of Law.

For the next 17 years, Lori worked as an attorney specializing in utility law, first at the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office and then at the Arkansas Public Service Commission. She ultimately joined Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation (AECC), where she spent the rest of her career after advancing to the position of Vice President/General Counsel. Lori also completed the Leadership Greater Little Rock program and the prestigious Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program, further demonstrating her commitment to lifelong learning and professional development.

Lori lived her life guided by three principles. The first was to be an active volunteer in her community. She served on boards and chaired fundraising events throughout the years for various organizations including the Historic Arkansas Museum Foundation board and Friends of KUAR/KLRE board (with terms as president of both), Tree Streets, and the Museum of Discovery, where she created a Girls in STEM ECA day. She also co-chaired the MOD “Spark!” event and was named a “Spark! Star” herself.

The second principle was to lift and support women (“Lift as we climb,” she was fond of saying). Lori was a founding member of Arkansas Women in Power, an organization she created in 2013 to recruit, maintain, and promote women in Arkansas’s energy industry. More recently, Lori frequently moderated and spoke on conference panels about female leadership and how women can succeed in the typically male-dominated world of business.

The third principle was to model a fearless life for her daughters. Lori sought to instill independence, strength, individuality, and a deep appreciation for community service in them. The passion with which she pursued her various interests demonstrated these principles daily.

Through her many endeavors, Lori forged connections and built a community that will continue to be inspired by her memory. When asked to share a few words that best capture Lori, her closest friends described her as “dynamic; kind; fiercely independent; positive; a bender of the arc of justice; impactful; compassionate; and vivacious.”

Above all, Lori was a beloved wife and mother whose family was her pride and greatest joy. She was married to her husband, Jeff Smithwick, for seventeen years. She and Jeff had two daughters, Gemma and Greta (who, thankfully, inherited their mother’s wit and charm). Lori loved all her family’s adventures – big and small – from bicycle rides along the Arkansas River Trail, to traveling the country, to baking her way through the pandemic (and sharing her delicious creations). She loved capturing the joy of all these moments – and her trademark lipstick – in photographs, and sharing them with friends and family on social media, where they were a delight to all.

Lori leaves to cherish her memory her husband and daughters; her parents Sherry (Bill) Stafford and Donald (Vicki) Burrows; her brother Jeff (Tana) Burrows; her sisters Misty (Brad) Brunt, Alicia (Joe) Tano, Bonnie (Jeremy) Nixon and Katherine Modlin; a wonderful extended family; and countless friends and colleagues who will remember her for her infectious laughter, her boundless energy, and her unwavering determination to make the world a better place.

Anyone who knew Lori knew she was a remarkable woman. She is gone too soon, but leaves behind a legacy of generosity, and an unwavering commitment to justice for all. As we honor and remember Lori L. Burrows, let us strive to embody her spirit and carry on her mission to create a more just and compassionate world. She will be greatly missed, but her spirit and the impact she made on her community and the world will never be forgotten.

For those who would like to make a donation to help continue Lori’s charitable works, the family has established the Lori L. Burrows Memorial Fund: http://www.arcf.org/lori.

Arrangements by A Natural State Funeral Service 2620 West Main Street, Jacksonville, Arkansas. 501-982-3400. Full obituary and online guestbook available at www.anaturalstatefuneralservice.com