Metro

Heavenly soul

Sylvia Woods, “the Queen of Soul Food’’ whose Harlem restaurant became famous around the world for comfort food like fried chicken and barbecue ribs, died yesterday at 86.

Woods, as beloved for her community service as for her mouthwatering meals, died at her Mount Vernon home “surrounded by a host of family and loved ones,’’ her relatives said in a statement.

“Sylvia gallantly battled Alzheimer’s for the past several years, but never once lost her loving smile,” her granddaughter, Tren’ness Woods-Black, said outside the Lenox Avenue eatery bearing her grandmom’s name.

The Rev. Al Sharpton said: “Sylvia’s has been more than a restaurant. It has been a meeting place for black America.’’

Sharpton said he had dined there “with everyone from President Obama to Caroline Kennedy.’’

Sylvia’s opened 50 years ago after Woods’ mother mortgaged her South Carolina farm to give her daughter the $18,000 needed to get started.

Sylvia’s, still a family-run business, has since become one of the city’s best-known restaurants, attracting tourists from around the world, as well as locals.

“Sylvia was like my mom, I’ve known her since I was 14 years old,” said Harlem resident Jeff Mann, 54.

“She was like everyone’s mom. She took care of a lot of people.”

Gail Willcocks, visiting from Australia, had wanted to dine there since a friend told her, “You can’t miss it.’’

“We’ve got nothing like this where I’m from,’’ Willcocks said. “It was the best meal I’ve had in ages.’’

Rep. Charles Rangel, who helped Woods get her business started when he worked as a lawyer and she was his client, said, “Sylvia’s may have been famous nationally and internationally, but its soul has always remained in Harlem.”

Mayor Bloomberg, who had been slated to give Woods an award last night for her 50th anniversary, said New York “lost a legend.”

Additional reporting by Tim Perone
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