Jay Gresham was born and raised in northern Greenville County and now serves as the elected Clerk of Court. His path to public service began at The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, where he graduated with honors and served as a cadet officer, learning the discipline and accountability that still guide him today. He went on to earn his law degree at the University of Wyoming College of Law, where he clerked for a judge, directed the Civil Legal Services Clinic, and was nominated by his classmates as the most outstanding member of his graduating class.

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After law school, Jay returned home to the Palmetto State. He served as Judicial Law Clerk to the Chief Administrative Circuit Judge for South Carolina's 13th Judicial Circuit and later as an Assistant Solicitor under former Solicitor Walt Wilkins, prosecuting criminal cases and working closely with law enforcement to protect public safety. Those roles gave him firsthand experience in how the justice system works — and the responsibility required to keep it serving the people.

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Public service runs deep in Jay’s family. His great-grandfather and grandfather were Greenville’s longest-serving Police Chiefs, his mother was the county’s first female prosecutor, and his late father retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Air Force.

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As Clerk of Court, Jay focuses on keeping the office efficient, protecting taxpayer resources, and making sure court records and obligations are handled the way the law requires. He believes the Clerk’s Office should be steady, accountable, and focused on service.