When Mildred “Millie” Burfeind-Hughes was born on Dec. 15, 1920, American women had just been granted the right to vote, and the average life expectancy was only about 54 years old. One hundred years later, Hughes has now exceeded even the current life expectancy – about 79 years – by more than two decades.

“She’s done so much in her life,” remarked longtime friend Marianne Green. Millie chuckled humbly to herself, “Oh, I don’t know if I’ve done that much.”