Photo courtesy of Southwest Airlines.

C.J. Bostic, a former Lakewood Heights neighbor who was the first Black flight attendant hired by Southwest Airlines, was honored by Dallas’ mayor last week.

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Mayor Eric Johnson declared Feb. 11, 2022, as “Celebrating the Life of CJ Bostic Day.” Bostic, who worked for Southwest for almost 50 years, died in January of cancer; she was 73.

We wrote about Bostic earlier this year after we spoke with one of her former neighbors, who remembered Bostic as outgoing, friendly and very approachable.

Bostic was born in Lockhart, Texas, and graduated from high school and college in New Jersey. Then, she relocated to Dallas and began working as a model for Neiman Marcus and Rothschild’s.

During her decades-long career at Southwest, Bostic was the recipient of several awards: a 1981 Founders Award, a 2005 Flight Attendant of the Quarter, a 2006 Founders Award, a 2012 Flight Attendant of the Month, a 2015 Outstanding Crew Award and a 2016 Customer Service Award.

Here’s an excerpt from the mayor’s proclamation that sums up Bostic’s legacy:

“During a nearly 50-year-long career with Southwest Airlines, CJ Bostic served as a friend, confidant and mentor to many of her colleagues; She stands out as an icon and model flight attendant whose enthusiasm for flying and for Southwest Airlines never wavered; The loved ones of CJ Bostic will continue to hold on to and treasure the precious memories of their time together, and the City of Dallas joins in celebrating her many contributions to our community.”