Chette Williams prays with the Auburn football team in 2008.
AUBURN, Ala. — Chette Williams, a longtime Auburn University football chaplain, died Dec. 15 after falling into the water at Lake Martin while getting off his pontoon boat. He was 61 years old.
The accident happened around 5:45 p.m. near a dock at Kowaliga’s Restaurant, and he was recovered by search and rescue crews around 7:19 p.m.
After news of his death was released, people from across the state and beyond expressed their sadness as well as their gratitude for Williams’ impact on many lives.
Williams was kicked off the Auburn football team in 1982 for partying, but in that low moment a teammate read the Bible with him, and he decided to follow Christ. Soon after, he rejoined the team and helped the Tigers win three bowl games, including the 1984 Sugar Bowl to cap the 1983 SEC championship season, according to the Auburn University Athletics website.
From there, he went on to earn a master of divinity from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and become pastor of New Covenant Baptist Church in New Orleans, then co-pastor of New Song Baptist Church in Mobile.
‘He’s like a father’
In 1999, he became the Auburn football team’s chaplain. He also served as the Auburn campus director for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) and the state director for Urban Ministries for FCA.
Williams’ book, “Hard Fighting Soldier: Finding God in Trials, Tragedies, and Triumphs,” tells his story and shares the testimony of other Auburn players and friends who have both seen and found God’s hand in college football. He also wrote “The Broken Road: Finding God’s Strength and Grace on a Journey of Faith.”
Former Auburn head coach Tommy Tuberville said in 2008 to “ask a player what Chette means to him, and he’s likely to say, ‘He’s like a father. He’s always there for me.’”
In recent months, Williams was still speaking to large groups of athletes across the state, sharing the gospel and seeing many come to know Christ.
Williams is preceded in death by his son, Chette Jr. He is survived by his daughters, Lauren and Caitlyn.
