Rev. Chette Williams, a beloved figure in Auburn football and the team’s long-serving chaplain, has died in a boating accident at the age of 61, the team announced.
Williams, known as “Brother Chette,” dedicated 26 seasons to the Tigers. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency reported that he fell from his pontoon boat on Lake Martin on Sunday evening.
His body was recovered about 90 minutes later near a dock at Kowaliga Restaurant in Elmore County, Alabama.
A former Auburn linebacker from 1982-84, Williams played a key role in the Tigers’ success, including their SEC championship-winning 1983 season, which culminated in victory at the Sugar Bowl.
Senator Tommy Tuberville, who coached Auburn football during part of Williams’ tenure, described him as “a remarkable man who led hundreds of young people to the Lord through the years.”
“His leadership has been a steady part of Auburn athletics for more than two decades,” Tuberville added.
“But more than sports, Brother Chette helped athletes understand that their purpose was much greater than anything they could ever accomplish on the field.”
Ordained as a minister in 1988, Williams had a bachelor’s degree in Adult Education from Auburn and a Master of Divinity from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. His ministerial career included pastoring roles in Alabama, Louisiana, and South Carolina before he returned to Auburn.
In addition to serving as Auburn’s chaplain, Williams was the campus director for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and state director for FCA’s Urban Ministries.
Williams is survived by his daughters, Lauren and Caitlyn. He was predeceased by his son, Chette Jr., in 2019.
