He graduated from St. Stephens High School and then attended Claflin University, where he earned a B.S.
Jefferson also attended the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy Magistrate School in 1999.
On May 30, 1970, he married Deloris Livingston and the couple has 3 children, Trena Mack, Marva Patterson, and Joseph III.
Jefferson was a Specialist Assistant to Congressman Mendel Jackson Davis from 1972 to 1980,[1] Chairman of the Berkeley County School Board and represented the Sixth Congressional District as a member of the South Carolina Department of Transportation Commission from 1994 to 1998.
[2] Jefferson served as 2nd Vice Chair of the House Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee.