A Virginia woman is defending her relationship with a man 44 years her senior, insisting that they are just like any other couple.
Conni Cotten, 24, met Herb Dickerson, 68, when she began volunteering at the Charlottesville homeless shelter he worked at in 2018. The two bonded over addiction recovery and quickly moved in together. Four months later, while Cotten was celebrating 18 months sober, he proposed.
Cotten says that strangers have called her a sugar baby. The couple initially faced criticism from their family and friends. But, she says after several years together, their loved ones have come around.
“People were shocked when we got together,” she said. “The most common comment I get is people thinking that I’m with him for money, they think it’s a sugar daddy relationship, or they think he’s with me just for sex because I’m a younger woman.”
Even though their age gap is substantial, Cotten was immediately attracted to Dickerson. As they talked more, their connection only deepened.
“I didn’t know what to think at first. It was a bit unusual that she was flirting with me, and I was on the job at the time,” Dickerson said.
The couple hopes to marry and make the most of the time they have together. Though, Cotten admits she sometimes worries about how much time she has left with Dickerson.
