Nancy Babcock Scrivener aka Nance St James, 93

St Louis’s own songbird gained her angel wings and a spot in the heavenly choir on Oct. 14th, 2020. She was surrounded by family, friends, music, and loving prayers. Her Junior League Larks, whom she had directed for more than 45 years serenaded her at her window.

Nance was born Nancy Jean Babcock, daughter of Ollie Emerson Babcock and Helen Delores Haskin on November 10th, 1926. She graduated from Clayton HS, then studied voice at Eastman School of Music, in Rochester, NY. From there she made her way onto the Broadway stage as an original cast member of ‘High Button Shoes’. Nance met the love of her life, Clifford Scrivener aka Clif St. James while they sang together in church choir in Rochester. They were married Aug. 24th, 1948. While living in Charleston, SC where Clif hosted a radio show, he decided to change his last name from Scrivener to St James,(although never legally), and it stuck. They returned to St. Louis in 1951 where she emerged as a shining star of television, radio, and commercial work. For the next four decades she and Clif entertained St. Louis audiences as popular radio and television hosts. Nance appeared in productions at The Muny, sang with the St Louis Symphony, St. Louis Chamber Chorus and was a soloist at Webster Presbyterian Church. In 2004, she was inducted into the St Louis Radio Hall of Fame.

As a celebrated vocal coach and mentor, Nance spent the last 30 years teaching many accomplished voice students who have gone onto Broadway and professional careers of their own. She was also founding director of the Variety Children’s Chorus. Nance and Clif are survived by 3 of their 4 children, Stace St James Physioc, her husband Steve Physioc, Lori St James Doll, her husband Jonathan Doll, and Clifford Scrivener St James (Chip). Their eldest daughter Patty St James Roberts died of cancer in 2010. Her grandchildren are Oliver Roberts, Julia Roberts Jarrell, Ryan Physioc Blickley, Kevin Physioc, Brandon Doll, and Peyton St. James. Nance has 5 great grandchildren, Taylor, Elliot, and Grayson Blickley, and Emerson Patricia Jarrell, and Lucy James Jarrell.

There will be a concert produced and performed by many of her former students in a year to celebrate her beautiful life, and in lieu of flowers the family would love for you to make a donation to Nance’s favorite charity, varietytheatre.org

Nance resided in Webster Groves, MO

“All of this is God’s plan. It’s my great joy to do it all!” -Nance St. James