Patricia Mustiful-James earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work from Grambling State University and has dedicated 42 years of service as a Program Support Assistant with the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center. In 2005, she relocated to Houston, Texas, after Hurricane Katrina, where she became an active member of her church community. Prior to moving to Houston, she lived in New Orleans, Louisiana, with her husband of 30 years until his passing in 2012. She is the proud mother of two children and grandmother of two. In her free time, she enjoys baking and staying active through exercise.