Mr. Jefferson had his heart set on the law, but he had grown up in the church and more and more found himself engaged in the work of the church until finally, as he puts it, "he found himself in the ministry." He was licensed in 1902 and supplied the church at Waynesboro, Va., till the meeting of the Conference at Stanton in 1903, which he was admitted on trial by Bishop McCabe. He was ordained Elder by Bishop W. F. McDowell in Washington, D. C., 1907. His first pastorate was at Bridgewater, Va., where he preached for five years with growing success. After that he preached at Covington, Va., one ear, Ronceverte, W. Va., one year. He went from there to the Central M. E. Church at Washington, D. C., for one year, then to Washington, Pa., for four years. While here he specialized in Sunday School work and has had unusual success in the leadership of his Sunday School forces wherever he has gone. From Pennsylvania he went to Sykesville, Md., for an unexpired pastorate of a few months. After that he preached at Inwood, W. Va., one year, Buchanan, Va., two years, Boyd, Md., one year and Grafton, W. Va., one and one half years.
In June, 1919, he was sent to his present work at Parkersburg, W. Va., which has prospered under his ministry. Mr. Jefferson devotes his whole time to his ministerial work. He magnifies it by putting his best into it. He has studied conditions in both the large and the small centers, and believes that in church life and in education matters, too little attention is given the child in the home. His own home training, as well as his observation has shown him how vital is the right start in life.
Mr. Jefferson has been married twice. His first marriage was to Miss Rebecca V. Carey, daughter of Alexandria, and Carrie Carey in 1895, by this marriage, there were six children. In 1910 he married Miss Mabel Brent, daughter of Robt. And Emma Brent. In politics Mr. Jefferson is a Republican. He belongs to the Masons and Pythians.