Longtime Auburn Football Chaplin and Former Player Chette Williams Died on Lake Martin Sunday

According to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, longtime Auburn Football Team Chaplin and former Tigers player Chette Williams died Sunday night as a result of an accident on Lake Martin. Williams was 61.

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The accident occurred around 5:45 p.m. in Elmore County, just west of the Kowaliga Bridge. Williams' body was pulled from the water at 7:19 p.m. and pronounced dead on the scene. According to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Williams was attempting to exit his 2005 Bennington 2575 RFS Pontoon Boat when he fell into the water near a dock near Kowaliga's restaurant on Lake Martin.

Williams served as Auburn Football's team Chaplin for 26 seasons after starting his first season in 1999 with the Tigers, Williams who was a former Linebacker for the Tigers from 1982-1984 where he contributed to three bowls games, a SEC championship 1983, and a Cotton Bowl victory in 1984.

Following his football career. Williams was ordained in 1988 after receiving his ministerial license in 1987. He earned a bachelor's degree in adult education from Auburn University in 1985 and a Master of Divinity from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in 1993.

Before returning to Auburn, Williams co-pastored New Song Baptist Church in Mobile, Alabama, from 1991 to 1993 and served as pastor of New Covenant Baptist Church in New Orleans from 1993 to 1995. From 1995 until 1999, he also held the position of former president of IMPACT Ministries, a ministry for children at risk located in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

Williams was the state director for FCA's Urban Ministries and the Auburn campus director for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in addition to being the chaplain for Auburn football. Williams is also the author of two books: "Hard Fighting Soldier: Finding God in Trials, Tragedies, and Triumphs" (2007) and "The Broken Road: Finding God's Strength and Grace on a Journey of Faith" (2013).

Williams became Auburn Football's team Chaplin in 1999, when former head coach Tommy Tubberville hired him. Williams retained this role for the following 26 years, during which time he was a part of three SEC titles (2004, 2010, and 2013) and a BCS National Championship in 2010.

Following this tragic news the Auburn Community has been very vocal sharing stories and lessons that they learned from Williams with former Auburn defensive lineman from 2001-2004 Wayne Dickens saying on X that "For 16 years of my life Chette stepped in an served as the man I needed to repair my relationship with my father and introduced me to a relationship with Jesus Christ. Special man, please pray for his girls. I’m wrecked but God’s son is resting at home with Him."

Former Auburn head coach and current Alabama Senator Tommy Tubberville took to X to share his thoughts and prayers for the Williams family with Tubbervile saying "Heartbroken to hear the news about Chette Williams. Brother Chette was a remarkable man who led hundreds of young people to the Lord through the years. He was the architect of the 2004 Hard Fighting Soldiers theme that turned into a national movement. His leadership has been a steady part of Auburn athletics for more than two decades. But more than sports, Brother Chette helped athletes understand that their purpose was much greater than anything they could ever accomplish on the field. I am thankful that we recently had the opportunity to catch up. Auburn wouldn’t be what it is today without him. My thoughts and prayers are with Brother Chette’s family, along with those impacted by his ministry through the years. He will be deeply missed, but his legacy will live on in the lives he touched."

Williams is survived by his daughters, Lauren and Caitlyn. His son, Chette Jr., preceded him in death in 2019.