MACON (GA)
WMAZ-TV, CBS 13 [Macon GA]
April 15, 2025
By Lars Lonnroth
The pastor for the church, Richard Jelley, is asking for a second chance after the program erupted in controversy.
MACON, Ga. — A Forsyth daycare where the executive director and two employees were accused of child abuse is trying to get its license back, according to state records.
On April 7, the Department of Early Care and Learning revoked the license for the Forsyth Methodist Church Caring for Kids daycare.
The state agency, also known as DECAL, said it found credible reports that staff had given toddlers Benadryl to make them go to sleep and “routinely” used physical force.
In a two-sentence letter, the church’s pastor Richard Jelley asked last Friday for a second chance.
“In response to your Notice of Revocation, we are writing to appeal your decision. We would like the opportunity to address and correct the rule violations that were identified,” the letter read.
Employee Kendasja Hughley was arrested on March 10 on charges of reckless conduct, according to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.
An investigative report from DECAL cited her actions on March 3, March 5 and March 7.
Hughley was accused of giving Benadryl to 2-year-olds at the center without parent approval. Benadryl is not approved for children under 6 years old.
At one point, the report claims a staff member said, “I gave you Benadryl, why aren’t you asleep?”
After Hughley’s arrest, another staffer Shelby Webb was arrested on her own child cruelty charges and Executive Director Cathy Stevick was arrested on charges of failing to report suspected child abuse.
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office also upgraded Hughley’s charges to felony child abuse.
The agency originally temporarily shut down the daycare as their investigation moved ahead, but once that suspension was about to expire, DECAL issued an order revoking the licenses due to what they found.
DECAL also reports of children being “snatched, grabbed, shoved, and yelled at as a form of discipline,” also in violation of the agency’s rules.
They say children were pulled aggressively, staffers kicked their cots and “jostling them about.”
But Forsyth Methodist Church’s decision to appeal has now started the judicial review process. According to the revocation letter, the daycare’s case will go before a Georgia administrative law judge. It’s unclear when that hearing will occur.
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