Auburn football chaplain dies in drowning on Lake Martin. Law enforcement investigating
The Rev. Chette Williams, the Auburn University football’s team chaplain for 26 seasons, died Sunday in a drowning on Lake Martin, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.
He was 61.
Williams, who resided in Dadeville, was trying to leave his 2005 Bennington 2575 RFS pontoon boat around 5:45 p.m. Central Time when he fell into the water near a dock at Kowaliga’s Restaurant, just west of the Kowaliga Bridge in Elmore County, according to ALEA’s news release.
His body was recovered at 7:19 p.m. near the same location where he entered the water, and he was pronounced dead at the scene, the news release says. The Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences has scheduled an autopsy.
ALEA’s Marine Patrol Division was still investigating Monday.
The following additional agencies assisted with the search and recovery, ALEA said: Elmore County Sheriff’s Office, Kowaliga Volunteer Fire Department, Red Hill Volunteer Fire Department and Real Island Volunteer Fire Department.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of former Auburn football player and longtime team chaplain Rev. Chette Williams,” Auburn football program said in a post on its Instagram page. “He made a profound impact on countless people during his 26 years with our program. Brother Chette will be greatly missed.”
Williams played linebacker at Auburn from 1982-84, helping the Tigers win three bowl games, including the 1984 Sugar Bowl to cap the 1983 SEC championship season.
He was licensed as a minister in 1987 and ordained in 1988. He received a bachelor’s degree from Auburn University in Adult Education in 1985, and a Master of Divinity from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in 1993, according to AuburnTigers.com.
Before returning to Auburn, Williams served as president of IMPACT Ministries in Spartanburg, South Carolina, from 1995-99 after pastoring New Covenant Baptist Church in New Orleans from 1993-95 and co-pastoring New Song Baptist Church in Mobile, Alabama, from 1991-93.
Williams authored two books, “Hard Fighting Soldier: Finding God in Trials, Tragedies, and Triumphs” in 2007, and “The Broken Road: Finding God’s Strength and Grace on a Journey of Faith” in 2013.
In addition to serving as Auburn football’s chaplain, Williams was also the Auburn campus director for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Williams is survived by his daughters, Lauren and Caitlyn. His son, Chette Jr., preceded him in death in 2019.
