text: Dorothy Carter sits for portrait on Feb. 12 at her home in Marion, Ill. Born Jan. 25, 1918, Carter celebrated her 103rd birthday. She has lived in southern Illinois most of her life and has seen the area’s attitude towards race change during her time. “It’s much better now. We’re all mixed together now,” Carter said. “From thinking way back when we wasn’t allowed to associate together, now we are all friends together. We are all socialized together, we go to school together, it’s much different than it used to be years ago. It’s a pleasure to know that we all can get along in this world together. It’s more fun now than it used to be.”