The longtime pastor of the Auburn University football team died Sunday after falling into the water on Lake Martin in central Alabama.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said the Rev. Chette L. Williams fell into the water from his pontoon boat Sunday evening. His body was found about 90 minutes later. He was 61.
The accident occurred near a dock at Kowaliga’s Restaurant on Lake Martin in Elmore County.
Williams, a former Auburn linebacker, had served as the Auburn football team chaplain since 1999. According to a biography on Auburn’s website, Williams was also the Auburn campus director for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the State Director for Urban Ministries for FCA.
He played for the Auburn football team from 1982 to 1984.
Sen. Tommy Tuberville, who was Auburn’s head football coach from 1999 to 2008, said Williams was a “remarkable man who led hundreds of young people to the Lord through the years.”
Tuberville said Williams’ ministry changed the lives of many Auburn athletes.
“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,” Tuberville wrote in a statement posted on social media.
“Heartbroken to hear the news about Chette Williams,” Tuberville said on X. “Brother Chette was a remarkable man who led hundreds of young people to the Lord through the years.
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… pic.twitter.com/Qwr7excMZe
— Coach Tommy Tuberville (@SenTuberville) December 16, 2024
Williams was a linebacker at Auburn under Coach Pat Dye from 1982-84.
Williams went on to serve in the ministry in Spartanburg, S.C. and as a pastor in New Orleans and Mobile after he was licensed as a minister in 1987 and ordained in 1988, according to his bio on the university website.
Alabama senator, Katie Britt, also extended condolences.
“Chette Williams has been an incredible mentor & spiritual leader to (Auburn football). His ministry was a force for good within the Auburn family & our state. My heart goes out to his and the entire Auburn family. My prayers are with you,” Britt tweeted.