CONGRESSIONAL RECORD— Extensions Of

E1364 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks July 31, 2012 CELEBRATING THE 50TH ANNIVER- munity. It was under the hot sun that she shortly thereafter with the hope that he SARY GOLDEN JUBILEE OF HAR- picked beans every day after school and first might one day sail to Brooklyn and reunite LEM’S BELOVED SYLVIA’S RES- fell in love with food. And it was there that with his love. Although he never quite made Sylvia initially met her future husband at it to Brooklyn through the Navy, the two TAURANT the tender age of 11 as she worked alongside married soon enough and moved to the vil- him on the farm. You could say it was des- lage of Harlem. HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL tiny. On the tough and often unforgiving streets OF NEW YORK Sylvia’s mother Julia worked tirelessly as of New York, almost everyone was chasing a laundress in New York and saved nearly after a dream. But it was the incomparable IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES every penny with the aim of purchasing the lessons of integrity, sacrifice, dedication and Tuesday, July 31, 2012 property adjacent to her own mother. That courage of her childhood that laid the foun- Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I stand to honor dream ultimately came to fruition. She re- dation for Sylvia’s eventual empire in Har- a venerable Harlem institution, Sylvia’s Res- turned to South Carolina when Sylvia was lem and was an imprint for the nation. When still an adolescent. Julia bought property the Woods first moved uptown, Herbert drove taurant, on its 50th anniversary. Founded by next to the farm and had her own house con- a cab to earn a living, while Sylvia worked a the late Sylvia Woods, Sylvia’s is nationally structed. factory job on Long Island. Exhausted for and internationally famous, yet its soul re- Together, as a family unit, they worked her commute, she seized an opportunity to mains in Harlem. the farm and provided living examples of work as a waitress at Johnson’s Luncheon- On Wednesday, August 1, 2012, to kick off strong, independent, Black land owning ette on Lenox Avenue. It was a decision that Sylvia’s Restaurant’s 50th Anniversary Golden women for young Sylvia to one day rep- later proved invaluable. Jubilee, the Woods family salutes the Harlem licate. When Sylvia first accepted this waitressing In addition to their domestic work and community with a complimentary Southern- job, it was yet another daring move not only maintenance of the farm, both Sylvia’s because she was inexperienced, but because style sidewalk breakfast party featuring Cake mother and grandmother were midwives for she had never set foot inside a restaurant be- Man Raven complete with a voter registration Hemingway during their prime. Despite fore. Growing up in the Deep South at a time drive, children’s programming, live entertain- being unable to read or write, her grand- when most restaurants barred Blacks and ment, guest speakers, prize giveaways and mother was the community’s only midwife Black-owned restaurants were basically non- plenty of ‘‘Dancing in the Streets.’’ The cele- at the time. This unyielding persistence to existent, she had no knowledge of the com- bration continues with The Golden Jubilee Pa- rise above adversity was a quality passed plexities of the fast-paced industry. But Syl- rade, featuring the awesome Brooklyn Step- down to Sylvia, as was a sense of humility via was a quick learner. and gratitude for all of life’s blessings. Syl- In 1962, when the owner of this luncheon- pers, which begins at Adam Clayton Powell, via herself once recounted that as a young ette was leaving to focus on other ventures, Jr. Harlem State Office Building African Village child, she considered herself extremely lucky he offered to sell Sylvia the establishment. Plaza from 125th Street and 7th Avenue to to be able to study by a lamp, for many in After her initial shock, Sylvia realized the Sylvia’s Restaurant at 127th Street and Lenox her neighborhood could not afford elec- potential this venue could have for a commu- Avenue. tricity. It was these humble beginnings that nity that was still yearning for a place to I’d like to include in this CONGRESSIONAL allowed Sylvia to continue to cherish each call home. Remaining true to the ideals of RECORD, in celebration of this milestone occa- and every success and never waver in support working as a family, Sylvia went to her sion the obituary that was prepared in remem- of the less fortunate. mother who then mortgaged the family farm During her formative years in Hemingway, and allowed her daughter’s concept to be- brance of Mrs. Sylvia Woods. Sylvia observed a community that lived and come a reality. On Aug. 1, 1962, Sylvia’s IN REMEMBRANCE OF SYLVIA WOODS, worked for the benefit of all. It was common- opened its doors. It had 15 stools and six FEBRUARY 2, 1926–JULY 19, 2012 place to adopt someone’s child if the need booths. If ever there was a woman who defined arose, or to help out in a person’s home if Having a business is no small feat, let strength, ambition and determination cou- necessary. Sylvia’s mother and grandmother alone a restaurant vying to survive during a pled with enough entrepreneurial spirit to had both adopted children at various points period when many were forced to close their uplift and inspire generations, it was Sylvia in their lives. It was in this environment doors. It was Sylvia’s faith and unbelievable Pressley Woods, ‘The Queen of Soul Food.’ where Sylvia’s dedication to hard work was relationship with Herbert that allowed her Encapsulating family traditions of love, fine tuned, as her mother made sure she to overcome any obstacle big or small. From unity, female empowerment and of course stayed busy even on rainy days when the the fields of South Carolina where they soul into her business ventures, she not only beans could not be picked. Learning to sew looked after one another, through an endur- established an imprint with her famed res- and mend, Sylvia started replacing buttons ing marriage that saw the birth of four chil- taurant Sylvia’s, but the visionary blazed a and repairing worn out clothing for herself dren—Van, Bedelia, Kenneth and Crizette— trail for an entire community to emulate. and the family. But soon enough, that the Woods had a bond that few will ever ex- After a blessed 86 years with us, Sylvia transitioned into a new creative outlet. perience in their lives. Both were born in Woods departed this world and reunited with Without the benefit of patterns to duplicate, Hemingway, and both lost their fathers as her late husband, Herbert Deward Woods, on or any formal training, Sylvia began making babies. And in an added twist of fate, both July 19, 2012. clothes—complete outfits—and tapping into Sylvia’s mother and Herbert’s mother were On February 2, 1926, Sylvia Woods was born the ingenuity that played a key role in all born on the same day, January 1, 1906. to Van and Julia Pressley in Hemingway, her life’s work During the 1960’s, Harlem was an unpre- South Carolina. Three days after Sylvia’s Whether she was expressing her innovative dictable and ever-changing neighborhood. As birth, her father succumbed to chemical- side, or working on the farm, Sylvia’s child- many restaurants struggled to remain open, weapons injuries; he worked to ensure finan- hood also centered on one other main factor: Sylvia’s found a niche with its southern cui- cial stability. When Sylvia was three years food. Watching her mother, grandmother, sines of collard greens, peach pies, fried old, her mother left her in the care of her relatives and neighbors pour their hearts chicken, cornbread and other soul foods. But grandmother and the greater community of into the dishes they served, she understood it was the warmth and love with which Syl- Hemingway as she went to Brooklyn, New that great food didn’t just emerge; it re- via welcomed patrons into the restaurant York in search of work and increased oppor- quired passion, love and soul. As different and that extra touch of care added into her tunities. It was the notion of strength and folks added their own ingredients and made dishes that won the hearts of the commu- that sense of family togetherness which ulti- their own specialties, Sylvia soon learned nity. Her establishment was so well re- mately defined who Sylvia Woods became. that cooking was a creative and artistic spected in fact, that during the riots of the Julia returned to Hemingway a short time process unto itself. It was those recipes that ’60s, as businesses were set ablaze, hers re- later whereby she raised her children, Syl- were in turn handed down from generation to mained protected and intact. via, Louise, whom she adopted, Christine the next. And no matter what the occasion, ‘‘Sitting idle is not an option’’ is what Syl- (Tiny), and Janie (Cout), whom she also it was food that brought everyone together. via’s mother used to say, and it’s what Syl- raised. When Sylvia was 16, her grandmother sent via herself exemplified throughout her time In an era where women were fighting for her to cosmetology school in Brooklyn in on earth. As her restaurant grew in popu- equal footing, Sylvia’s grandmother already order to find work as a beautician. The larity, so did her efforts towards expansion.

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