Mildred Holland Bland died on the morning of July 23 at the age of 103.

Born in Hamilton, Ill., on Dec. 22, 1906, she was raised in Keokuk, Io., along with her three younger sisters and brother — Claudia, Consuelo, Marjorie and Claude, all now deceased. She moved to Boston in her adult years, first living in the Orchid Hill Road area of Jamaica Plain, and then moving to Crawford street in Roxbury. After that she lived for many years in her stately home in Dorchester with her two sisters and a brother, along with her nephew. Her other sister, Consuelo, a retired captain in the Army, and her husband Quincy resided in San Diego, Calif.

The home in Dorchester had 17 rooms, all named and colored with lovely antiques where Mildred and her sisters entertained in a grand old-fashioned manner. Mildred was a staunch Republican in her early years, but in her mid-adult years she switched to the Democratic party, working behind the scenes and giving financial support as well. She often traveled to Washington with her engaging sisters; everyone knew Aunt Mildred as the matriarch of the Bland family. She never married, although she had several offers.

She was a mild-mannered lady and a leader in social activities and many organizations. She was a past board member of the Martha’s Vineyard Branch of the NAACP, a member of the Martha’s Vineyard League of Women Voters, and the Edgartown Council on Aging, where she especially loved the fashion shows. She had a beautiful alto singing voice and loved to sing at church and in groups. She was an Episcopalian and a storyteller. On the Vineyard she attended Grace Episcopal Church in Vineyard Haven, where she belonged to the Ninety Club, a group of active 90-plus-year-olds doing things. She also loved to accompany her niece to Trinity United Methodist Church in Oak Bluffs and the Whaling Church in Edgartown.

In 1995 she came moved to Edgartown to live with her niece, Lorna E. Andrade. Her close Island friends included T.M. and Marie Araujo, Helen Rogers, Carrie Tankard and her late husband George, Rupert and Rozetta Hughes, Jerry Wells, Tad and Judy Crawford and Clint and Carol Aldrich.

She moved off-Island in December 2000 to the Goddard House, previously the Home for Aged Women, in Jamaica Plain across from the Veterans Administration Hospital. While living there she made many new friends.

She had remained active until the past two years when she lost the use of her legs and one hand to arthritis. She never smoked or drank and was a great cook. She loved her dogs.

While living at the Goddard House she kept the Island close to her heart, and loved it when her Island friends traveled to see her on her 100th birthday.

A graveside service was held at the Blue Hill Cemetery in Braintree on Wednesday.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to your favorite charity.

Arrangements are under the care of Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home in Oak Bluffs.