Sylvia Woods dies - New York News | NYC Breaking News

The woman who was known as the "Queen of Soulfood" has died.  She was 86.

The Woods family announced the passing on Thursday.  They say she died peacefully at 4:50 p.m. at her Westchester home.

Woods founded the famous Sylvia's Restaurant in Harlem in 1962.

Woods was born and raised in South Carolina.  In 1944, she moved to New York and worked as a waitress at Johnson's luncheonette.  The owner sold her the business in 1962 with a loan from her mother.

She grew the small luncheonette into a restaurant and catering hall and eventually launched a national line of food products.

She also published two cookbooks.

Sylvia Woods and her late husband Herbert Woods, had four children together, Van, Bedelia, Kenneth, and Crizette.

In a statement, her family said:  "Ms. Woods was surrounded by a host of family and loved ones. Sylvia gallantly battle Alzheimer's for the past several years, but never once lost her loving smile. Sylvia publicly announced at her 80th birthday celebration that she was retiring and passing the torch to her children and grandchildren whom have worked side by side with her and her late husband Herbert building a Soul Food empire for the past 50 years."

In a statement, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said, "We lost a legend today."

The mayor's statement went on to say:  "For more than 50 years, New Yorkers have enjoyed Sylvia's and visitors have flocked to Harlem to get a table. In her words, the food was made with 'a whole lot of love' and generations of family and friends have come together at what became a New York institution."

The family asked that in lieu of flowers, they would appreciate donations made to the Sylvia and Herbert Woods Fund.