Fontaine Carrington Weems II

Fontaine Carrington Weems, II died peacefully at home on Wednesday, the 2nd of February 2022, surrounded by his family. A third generation Houstonian, Carrington was born in Houston, Texas on the 3rd of July 1928, the third child of Wharton Ewell Weems and Mathilde Booth Weems. His wife Mary Ann Sledge Weems also precedes him in death. Carrington leaves behind his children Alexandra Locke Weems, Fontaine Carrington Weems III, Mathilde Sledge Weems MD, daughter in law Cristina Lozano Weems, grand children Fontaine Carrington Weems IV, Isabella Demetria Weems, and Mason Locke Weems.

Carrington was raised in Houston on Inwood Drive. He attended River Oaks Elementary, Kinkaid school and later graduated from The Taft School in Watertown, CT. He returned to Houston and attended Rice Institute (now University) where he studied architecture and engineering and later transferred to University of Colorado where he obtained a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering in 1952. Following graduation, he began to design and build homes. He always had a strong interest and passion for architecture, history, home, real estate and business. He started his private commercial brokerage, Weems & Co., Inc. in 1957, which he maintained for the remainder of his life.

In 1958, he married Mary Ann and together they purchased land in River Oaks. They shared a passion for contemporary art and architecture. In 1962, they designed and built their elegant mid century home and interiors. Mary Ann and Carrington were a powerful duo; together they created a beautiful home and loved to entertain friends and family, particularly around the holidays. They collaborated on other design projects including their home in La Porte, Texas and the Gazebo at Glenwood Cemetery in Houston, where Mary Ann is laid to rest. They both enjoyed gatherings at The Bayou Club, River Oaks Country Club, Allegro and The Houston Yacht Club, where they were members. Both Mary Ann and Carrington were members of Christ Church Cathedral in downtown Houston. Carrington served as chairman and president of Houston’s historical Glenwood Cemetery, alongside executive director, Richard Ambrus. The couple leaves behind their charitable foundation, the Mary Ann and F Carrington Weems Foundation.

Carrington had a very long and successful career as a commercial real estate broker in greater Houston. He worked with many prominent developers and got a thrill from doing business and imagining planned communities. Year after year, he was recognized by The Houston Business Journal as a “heavy hitter”, by his tenacity and dedication to his craft. His fondest achievement was developing and brokering Houston Center, in 1979. The site included the ancestral home of his grandfather, B. F. Weems who moved to Houston in 1858 and built his home at the corner of Jackson and Rusk. B. F. Weems was one of the founders of the Port of Houston.

Carrington was active in many community-building activities that have contributed to what Houston is today. He served as the Chairman of the Contemporary Arts Association (Museum) and chaired various committees including the Land Acquisition, the Capital Fund Drive and the Architectural Selection during the building of the Contemporary Arts Museum in Houston.

Carrington was the co-founder of the Texas Diabetes Research Foundation, alongside Dr. Alfred E. Leiser, MD. Together they raised over $3 million, which went towards the purchase of the first powerful electron microscope in the Texas Medical Center. The balance of this fund was given to Baylor College of Medicine, where the “Leiser-Weems Chair for Diabetes Research” was named at Baylor College of Medicine.

Carrington loved the water and anything maritime related. He loved sailing, motor boating, swimming, fishing, and ships of all kinds. His extensive collection of nautical art, artifacts, books and exceptional ship models was renowned. He had a tremendous interest and knowledge about historical ships and their passages. He was an active supporter of the Houston Maritime Museum (grand opening expected 2023).

In 2011, the Galveston Historical Foundation honored him with the Spirt of Elissa Award. Carrington had an extensive collection of early maps and ship models which were on display in 2006 at the Museum of Southern History at Houston Baptist University; “Origins and Influences: Five Centuries of Shipping and Mapping.” The exhibition included early maps of the Americas dating back to 1525 and the evolution and birth of Texas over the 18th and 19th centuries.

Carrington’s notable ancestor, Mason Locke “Parson” Weems, was a first generation American of Scottish decent who was born in Maryland in 1759. Parson Weems was a physician and minister who authored George Washington’s first biography, which included the popular anecdote of George Washington and the cherry tree, written as a “moral tale” to children during the American Revolutionary War.

Carrington was honored publically many times. In 2010, governor Rick Perry commissioned him as an Admiral in the Texas Navy by the state of Texas. In 2020, he was given The George Washington Distinguished Service Award by the Paul Carrington Chapter Texas Society for his contributions.

Carrington was a remarkable and beloved figure of many honors, loving father and loving spouse. He will be missed. More of his numerous achievements and various interests can be found on his website at: www.weemscollections.com

The Weems family would like to thank the numerous devoted individuals that helped with his care, Harriet Hart, Paul Broussard, Maria Elena Ramirez, Ricarda Casarez, Sandra Young, Bridgette Massey, Keondra Young, Alexander Bowlin, Dr. Robert Jackson, Dr. Michael Coburn, and Houston Hospice.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from five o’clock in the afternoon until seven o’clock in the evening on Tuesday, the 8th of February 2022, in the library and grand foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

Carrington will be laid to rest during a graveside service at three o’clock in the afternoon on Wednesday the 9th of February 2022, at Glenwood Cemetery, 2525 Washington Avenue in Houston, where The Very Reverend Barkley S. Thompson, Dean of Christ Church Cathedral is to officiate.

(Kindly note: due to cemetery construction at the Washington Avenue front entrance of Glenwood Cemetery, all access into and out of Glenwood Cemetery will be through the Kane Street back entrance of the cemetery, specific directions may be found at Glenwood Cemetery's website at www.glenwoodcemetery.org).

A uniformed steward from Geo. H. Lewis & Sons is to be positioned at the Kane Street Glenwood Cemetery entrance, so as to direct attendees to the gravesite.

Immediately following, the family will greet friends during a reception in an adjacent garden at the cemetery.

Serving as honorary pallbearers will be FC Weems III, FC Weems IV, Mason Locke Weems, James A. Baker III, Wally Wilson, Frank Smith, Palmer Moldawer, Harry Masterson, Richard Ambrus, Mavis Kelsey, John Dabney, Ford Hubbard, Jr, and Stuart Phelps.

In loving memory, kindly consider donating flowers to Christ Church Cathedral’s flower ministry in Carrington’s name by contacting Lisa Viktorin at [email protected] or online at https://www.christchurchcathedral.org/flower-ministry/; or to a charity of your choice.