Auburn University is mourning the death of Pastor Chette Williams, the longtime football chaplain and Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) leader. On Sunday evening, Dec. 15, the 61-year-old fell from a boat in an Alabama lake and drowned.
According to authorities, Williams and a friend took a pontoon boat to a restaurant on Lake Martin, about an hour west of Auburn. After docking to have dinner, they learned the establishment was closed for a private event. When Williams tried to return to the boat, officials said, he accidentally fell into the water, and his friend couldn’t save him.
Dive teams recovered Williams’ body about 90 minutes later. An autopsy is being performed, and the incident is under investigation.
Auburn Chaplain Chette Williams Dead at 61
Chette Williams, known as Brother Chette, played linebacker for Auburn in the early 1980s. He had been the Tigers’ chaplain for 25 years, making him the longest-serving spiritual director at an NCAA Division I school.
When Tommy Tuberville, now a U.S. senator, became Auburn’s head football coach in 1999, he created a full-time chaplaincy position for Williams. In a statement, Tuberville said he was “heartbroken” about Williams’ death, calling him “a remarkable man who led hundreds of young people to the Lord through the years.” Through his ministry, “Brother Chette helped athletes understand that their purpose was much greater than anything they could ever accomplish on the field,” Tuberville added.
Williams also served as FCA’s campus director at Auburn, as well as the group’s State Director for Urban Ministries.
In 2019, Williams’ 19-year-old son was killed while trying to rob a man at an Atlanta gas station. Grief over that loss led to more effective outreach, according to former players. “[Williams] was there when my dad passed away,” said former team captain Luke Deal. “He was a constant presence in my life and someone who had lost a loved one.”
The chaplain, who attended New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, served at various churches in the South before accepting the position at Auburn. He also wrote two books: “Hard Fighting Soldier” and “The Broken Road.”
Brother Chette Williams: Ministry Brings Trials and Blessings
When Williams was interviewed about his 20th anniversary at Auburn, he reflected on the challenges and joys of being a chaplain. “Whenever you’re in ministry and trying to make a difference, you’re going to come under attacks, adversities, and trials,” he told the Alabama Baptist. “But there have been a lot of blessings.”
Williams helped create a chaplain training program that became one of his “biggest joys.” Nate Farrow, a former Auburn athlete who now serves in ministry, said Williams helped him navigate life decisions and learn “how to pray through Scripture.”
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