Family man, teacher, community organizer, trade unionist
December 25, 1911 – November 16, 2005
Bostic Josiah Franklin, age 93, of St. Louis (formerly Memphis, Tennessee), died peacefully on November 16, 2005 at Willowcreek Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Belleville, IL. Bostic was loved and admired by his large extended family and many friends as well as former students and colleagues.
His loving wife Verna and children – Joyce Elliott, Paula M. Littleton (Arthur), Richard H. Franklin (Donna) and Michael E. Franklin (Gerri) – will miss him terribly.
His wise and kind ways will also be missed greatly by his 11 grandchildren, Tyrone Hubbard, Stephen Littleton, Richard A. Franklin, David Littleton, Jeffrey Littleton, Lea Franklin-Zaslofsky, Dennis Littleton, Jason Taylor, Ellian Turner, Akilah Franklin and Dalila Franklin; seven great-grandchildren, Treondus Whitfield, Tyrone J. Whitfield, Jessica Whitfield, Ryan Littleton, Megan Littleton, Joshua Littleton, and Kaytlyn Littleton; great-great-granddaughter Nicole Whitfield; nephew and nieces Nathanael Franklin, Mary Alice Banks, Gladys Williams; and great nephews, Paul Farbush, Brian Farbush and Nathanael Franklin, Jr.
Bostic earned his bachelor’s degree in 1933 and his master’s in 1936, both at Howard University where he subsequently became an assistant professor in the political science department then headed by Ralph Bunch, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1950.
Bostic moved to St. Louis in 1936 and began teaching in the St. Louis Public Schools in 1938. Bostic taught history and English, first at Vashon High School and, beginning in 1963, as a member of the first group of black teachers at Cleveland High School. He retired in 1978.
Everyone who knew him admired his keen intelligence and warm personality as well as his pioneering work to secure social and economic parity for teachers and disenfranchised black Americans. He was an organizer of the St. Louis Teachers’ Union and the St. Louis Teachers’ Credit Union. Because of his more than 27 years of volunteer work, Bostic received the Silver Beaver Award from the Boys Scouts of America. Bostic was a member of Lane Tabernacle CME Church for more than 60 years where he also taught Sunday School.
Services will be held at Lane Tabernacle CME Church, 910 Newstead, on Friday, November 25. Visitation will be at 10 a.m., service at 11 a.m., followed immediately by internment. Funeral from Austin Lane Mortuary. Memorial contributions may be made to Lane Tabernacle CME Church or to the American Heart Association, 460 Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63141.
