John Webster likes his new role as executive director of the Child Advocacy Center just beyond the Rowan Street bridge, where staff and volunteers since 1993 have dedicated themselves to preventing child abuse in Cumberland County.
But Webster gladly would give up the job if the day would arrive when the CAC never again had to deal with a physically, mentally or sexually abused child.
If, Webster hopes, only such a day would come.
“I know the backstory and the long-term effects,” Webster, 56, says, “and what it is for a child to bounce back from abuse.”
Webster has seen just about every kind of child abuse case from his years with the Harnett County Department of Social Services, where he was a child protective services investigator, and later in a supervisory position with Wake County Human Services. He has worked as a supervisor with the Guardian ad Litem program for a three-county judicial district and most recently as program manager of adoptions and foster care for the Johnston County Department of Social Services before coming to the CAC in June.
Webster replaces Roberta Humphries, the 68-year-old CAC executive director who served for 14 years in her role until retiring in 2023 — a retirement interrupted when Humphries came back to serve as interim director while the CAC board of directors searched for a new executive director.
Humphries was passionate about her job when it came to an abused child. She had no tolerance of anyone who would mistreat a child.
Neither does Webster.
Cases of child neglect, he says, are bad enough. Physical and sexual abuse are the cases that trouble Webster all the more.
He recalls a child pornography case in the early 2000s involving a 9-year-old girl in Wake County.
“It was horrible and involved DSS as well as local, state and federal law enforcement working together to seek justice for this young girl,” Webster says. “Fortunately, the perpetrator is locked behind bars and will never see the light of day again.”
It was, Webster says, justice served.
Child abuse by the CAC numbers
Child abuse has many faces — from abusive parents to live-in boyfriends taking sexual liberties with children in the homes.
“We’ve had little girls and boys who were sexually and/or physically abused by their mom’s boyfriends, stepdads, etc.,” Webster says. “Some of these involve men who the mother recently met at a local bar or via an online dating site. These anger me, because I think there are times when parents just don’t thoroughly check out their boyfriends or girlfriends before bringing them into their homes around young children. Sometimes, but certainly not always, these women are victims of domestic violence and find themselves dependent on the man to meet their financial needs.”
The innocent child becomes the victim.
“Often, they come to us from the Department of Social Services or law enforcement,” Webster says. “We work with the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, the Fayetteville Police Department, the Hope Mills Police Department, the Spring Lake Police Department and the CID (Criminal Investigation Division) on Fort Liberty.” He says 9% of child abuse cases the CAC dealt with in 2023 occurred on the military base.
Of the 772 cases referred to the CAC in 2023, according to the CAC, 46% were for sexual abuse, 41% for physical abuse and 12% for neglect. Children under the age of 5, according to the CAC, were at 28% of cases, and 96% of the alleged offenders were known to their victims.
There are other cases, too, Webster says, from children subjected to substance abuse, and the internet can be an issue as well.
“The internet can be a culprit due to the exposure that the internet can bring directly into a home where young children reside,” he says. “Our society is often looking for immediate satisfaction and can consequently place their children in harm’s way.”
Webster was not able to comment on the recent arrest of Avantae Deven, the 63-year-old Fayetteville mother who is charged with two counts of first-degree murder, including two counts of felony child abuse in the deaths of her two adopted children — Blake Deven, 17, and London Deven, 27. But he did say there are times when the state has entrusted someone to care for kids but later learn that they were subjected to more abuse by a system designed to protect them.
‘He certainly has the credentials’
Dealing with child abuse can be complicated, Webster says. But he’ll tell you, too, child abuse is not acceptable — ever.
Hence, it is why John Webster finds himself at the CAC.
“We look forward to John’s daily administration and management of the Child Advocacy Center,” says Nadine Miller-Bernard, who is chairperson of the CAC board of directors. “In addition, John will work with the 19 partner agencies who come together to interview, investigate and provide support for abused children. John has extensive background in social services, child protective services, forensic interviewing and administration and management. He certainly has the credentials to lead the CAC to a productive future for the children of Cumberland County.”
Other CAC board members are Cumberland County District Court Judge Caitlin Evans (vice chairperson), Debbie Jenkins, Chris Lee, Rebecca Aul, DeLisa Crosby, Heather Godwin, Laura Hardy, Jimmy Hendley Jr., George Hendricks, Cumberland County Superior Court Judge Claire Hill, Robin Hurmence, Dr. Julie Lee-Jacobs, Lucy Jones, retired Cumberland County Chief District Court Judge Beth Keever, Elizabeth Fox Lee, Johnny Leonard, Mark Maynor, Juelle McDonald, Michael Morketter, Dr. Cheryl Perry, Sarah See, Michelle Smith, R.N., Dr. Danielle Thomas-Taylor and Wendy Vonnegut.
Epilogue
A graduate of Campbell University with a B.A. in Government and Secondary Education, Webster resides in Four Oaks in Johnston County, just a 37-minute drive to his CAC office. He could have retired and devoted more of his time to his family and to Hickory Grove Advent Christian Church in Four Oaks, where Webster is a an elder, Sunday school teacher and accomplished pianist. Or working as an umpire for school and community basketball, softball and baseball games.
But the CAC is where John Webster wants to be.
Webster acknowledges that he has big shoes to fill following in the footsteps of Roberta Humphries, who will remain as director of CAC finances.
“I do, but I feel I’ve got her support and the support of the staff,” he says. “I’m getting to know the staff, and the staff works really well together. This brings me back to my love for child welfare. This has really been a breath of fresh air. I feel we do good work here. It’s good people doing good work. The CAC plays a vital role in making these transitions for these kids. While I have plenty to learn, I believe I have plenty to bring to the table.”
Bill Kirby Jr. can be reached at billkirby49@gmail.com or (910) 624-1961.
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I am so excited that John has joined the CAC as Executive Director. I believe he has the experience to take the CAC to the next level as services are expanded to continue to meet the evolving needs of families in crisis in our community.