Mrs. Joyce Gilbert was born on September 16 in Sherman, Texas to John and Lois Barnett. Joyce has one brother John Wayne Barnett of Mesquite and one Sister Joanne Valenga of Houston, Texas.
On July 14, Joyce married Jimmy Gilbert of Princeton, Texas and they are parents of two daughters and one son. Mrs. Kathy Welborn and her husband David of Allen, Texas; Mrs. Kim Montgomery and her husband Mark of McKinney, Texas and Mike Gilbert of Princeton, Texas. Joyce and Jimmy have 6 Grandsons and 1 Granddaughter. They live on a ranch North of Princeton.Joyce graduated from Princeton High School and North Texas School of Nursing and took extended cardiac nursing at Grayson County College. Joyce specialized in Cardiac nursing spending 10 years in ICU at North Texas Hospital in McKinney, Texas. Joyce was Vice-President of Princeton Food Mart and Drive Inn Groceries in McKinney and Princeton areas. Joyce and Jimmy were Co-owners of the Citizens Bank in Princeton for 10 years. They retired from the Grocery and Auto Parts business in 2002. Joyce is vice-president of the Gilbert Cattle Company.
Joyce is an endowed member of the Princeton Chapter No. 1126 in Princeton, and a dual member of Gate City Chapter No. 77 in Denison, Texas. She was initiated in 1983 in Farmersville Chapter No. 940 and is a 1984 Charter member of Princeton Chapter No. 1126. Jimmy Gilbert and daughter Kathy are members of Princeton 1126. Has been Worthy Matron twice and an Officer in Princeton Chapter and Gate City each year since initiation. She was Grand Soloist in 1993-94, Deputy Grand Matron 1995-96, Grand Organist 1998-99, Humanitarian Chairman District 1 1999-2000. Grand Examiner District 1 2001-2002. Joyce was elected Associate Grand Conductress at the 2004 Grand Chapter, served as Grand Conductress in 2005-2006, Associate Grand Marton in 2006-2007 and installed as Grand Matron in August of 2007.
Joyce is a member of First Baptist Church of Princeton where she has been church organist, soloist, Sunday School Teacher for singles class and choir member for 35 years.
Joyce's emblem is the Cross and Black Grand Piano. Saying "Music is the Window to the Soul and the Cross is the Door to Heaven." The Associate Conductresses of Texas are called "Ivory Angels." Ivory because of its strength and Angels because they are our Guardians.