Nina Lynn Stoker Woolen Gilbert was born on March 28, 1950 to the parentage of the late Reverend Otha Lee Stoker Sr (PaPa) and the late Hazel Aline Edwards Stoker (Bigmama) in Marshall, Texas. Nina was the fourth child of eight children born to this union and the family love and strength in their household was legendary. Nina grew up on Park Drive, with her siblings showcasing their family bond and making a wealth of friends. Her parent's taught her and her siblings that their faith, family and self worth was very important.

Nina accepted and dedicated her life to Christ at an early age. She was a member of Edward Chapel Baptist Church of Marshall Texas. She loved going to church where she participated in Sunday School, Choir, and most of the Christmas and Easter plays and programs. In later years she would unite with Miles Memorial CME Church where she was very active and served in numerous church ministries. Nina was known to develop some of the most elaborate seasonal plays/programs.

Nina attended JH Moore Elementary School in Marshall, Texas where her favorite teacher, Mrs. Hodge of the sixth grade, built on Nina's love for education that was first instilled in Nina by her parents. Nina was named after Mrs. Hodge's daughter, Nina Hodge, this bond was fashioned and formed through Nina's oldest sister, Bobbie, who was best friends with Nina Hodge.

Nina attended HB Pemberton Junior and Senior High School of Marshall, Texas. While in high school, Nina love participating in and won numerous beauty pageants. She was also very active in school plays all along while working at JCPenney Department Store, after school and on weekends. Nina finished high school with honors at HB Pemberton with the Class of 1968 and enrolled in Wiley College, where she formed a love for politics and health science. As many of you know Nina's love for politics would continue to shape her as she would continued to encourage everyone to Vote and could debate you on any political issue, regardless of your political party affiliation. In 1969 Nina met and married her first husband Raymond C Woolen Sr (div) to this union four (Raymond, Nicole, Tosha and Terry) children were born. She later met and married Alvin C Gilbert Sr (div) to this union one (Alvin Jr) child was born.

Nina went to nursing school at Memorial Hospital in Marshall Texas and she became a Licensed Vocational Nurse in November 1976. Nina went on to further her education in Kilgore, Texas at Kilgore Junior College becoming a Registered Nurse in September 1982. Although, Nina started her nursing career in the field of Medical Surgical Nursing, she later moved into the field of Nephrology (renal) nursing acquiring her Certification as a Nephrology Nurse (CNN). It is widely known that she was one of the best nephrology nurses in the field helping to provide excellent, loving care to her patients. Nina would go on to help setup some of the most successful dialysis units/centers across Texas, throughout her career. Nina always said that she developed some of her most precious friendships while practicing in this field. Nina's career spanned across many years in the healthcare field from working as a staff nurse and nurse manager at CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Hospital (Longview, Texas) and Mother Frances Hospital (Tyler, Texas), Texas State Quality Control Monitor for hemodialysis units (across the state of Texas) and later starting her own medical staffing agency (Dallas/Fort Worth area).

Awaiting Nina in Heaven was her parents Reverend Otha Lee Stoker Sr, and Hazel Aline Edwards Stoker, her sister Bobbie Jean Edwards, her brothers Charles Winfred Brooks Sr and Gary Lee Stoker, imagine that glorious celebration!

Nina had several life and career accomplishments; however, her joy was her family and friends whom she loved spending time with and who are grateful to God for blessing of being a part of her life. She passes the torch of family love to five loving children: Raymond C Woolen II, Nicole Woolen, Tosha Woolen, Terry Woolen, Alvin C Gilbert II (Junior) and a devoted daughter in-law Jessie Harlan- Woolen. Fourteen grand children: Christopher, Nicholas, Tierra, Brandon, Deasia, Willie (aka Skeeter), Crystal, November, Noah, Mason, Elaina, Alvin III (aka AC3), Hailey, Ameer and one great grand child T'ZYhe. To help her children, grand children and great grand child carry this torch are her siblings: Otha Lee Stoker II, Vivian Ann Stoker Curtis, Larry James Stoker Sr and Mary Jean Stoker McKinney. Sister-in Laws- Almeta Smith Brooks, Josephine Bell Stoker, Rita McLeod Stoker, Georgia Price Stoker and brother in laws, MacArthur (Mack) Curtis and Claude (Doug) McKinney; a large host of beautiful nieces, niece in- law, and handsome nephews, nephews in-laws, cousins and faithful friends.