Nationwide — Meet Susie Dotson, an African American woman from Columbus, Georgia, who recently turned 100 years old. Despite her age, she exudes vitality, declaring she feels as youthful as someone in their 40s or 50s.
Dotson was born on July 4, 1924, in Cusseta, Georgia. In 1975, she moved to Columbus. She is the last surviving sibling of her 20 brothers and sisters.
“I wondered a lot of times, ‘Why, why me? Why me? Why, why me?’ I wondered that so. I guess it might have come from being good to everybody and being kind and sweet,” she said.
Family and friends recently gathered at the Heritage Hall room at the National Infantry Museum to celebrate Dotson’s milestone and express their appreciation. Her grandson, Charles Thornton, whom she has raised since he was three months old, helped organize the event.
“She’s very colorful, very funny. You know, she has no filter saying what she wants to say but she has a great heart. She’ll give you the shirt off her back. She’s been a great mom to me, and she actually made me who I am today,” Thornton said.
Despite losing her eyesight recently, Dotson continues to radiate positivity and humor. At her party, Dotson hugged and talked to many with a big smile on her face.
“I love people, and I love to be around them. I love to laugh with them. I can’t see nobody, but you can say things to make me feel good or make me tickled, make me laugh. I laugh a lot,” she said.
Moreover, Dotson believes love and connection are key to a long life.
“I think we all should get together and love each other. I think we should not hate each other. I think we should just go on and smile and keep in touch with each other,” she continued.
