'Queen of Soul Food' Sylvia Woods Dies at 86

Sylvia Woods, the proprietor of legendary Harlem soul food restaurant Sylvia's, died at her home in Westchester County yesterday. She was 86. The news of her death came just a few hours before Woods was going to receive an award from Mayor Bloomberg commemorating the 50th anniversary of her restaurant.

Woods opened Sylvia's in 1962 as a small luncheonette serving soul food dishes. The restaurant expanded over the years to a 250 seat dining room with a catering division and a banquet hall. Last night, Mayor Bloomberg said that New York had "lost a legend." He continued:

Even as her brand became a nationwide success, she never forgot to give back to the community that helped make it all possible, creating the Herbert and Sylvia Woods Scholarship Endowment Fund for Harlem High School seniors. My thoughts are with her family and New York City will never forget the Queen of Soul Food.