Her father, Van Pressley, died when she was just three days old from complications of injuries he received during combat in World War I.

By April 10, 1930, she had lived in Williamsburg County, South Carolina, with her grandmother Sylvia Johnson, the woman she was named after.

Organized and started by her son Van in 1992, Sylvia came out with her own line of soul food products that are sold nationally.

Woods' products include many of her special sauces, vegetables, spices, syrup, and cornbread and pancake mixes.

Guests have included Quincy Jones, Diana Ross, Muhammad Ali, Bill Clinton, Robert F. Kennedy, and President Barack Obama.

[3] New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg was due to present Woods with an award at a celebration of the 50th anniversary of Sylvia’s Restaurant shortly after she died; a family friend accepted it on her behalf.