close
close
Longtime Auburn football chaplain dies after falling into water at Lake Martin

Longtime Auburn football chaplain dies after falling into water at Lake Martin

ELMORE COUNTY, Ala. (WSFA) – Longtime Auburn football chaplain Rev. Chette Williams died Sunday after falling into the water near a dock on Lake Martin.

According to authorities, the incident occurred at the Kowaliga Restaurant west of the Kowaliga Bridge in Elmore County around 5:45 p.m

According to Elmore County Sheriff Bill Franklin, Williams fell from a dock while trying to get into a boat. The sheriff said Williams slipped and fell into the water while boarding the boat after learning the restaurant was closed for a private event.

Williams’ body was recovered around 7:20 p.m., the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency confirmed early Monday. His body was sent to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences for an autopsy.

Williams, a former Auburn linebacker, was in his 26th year as the football team’s chaplain. He also served as Campus Director of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at Auburn and State Director of Urban Ministries for FCA.

He received a bachelor’s degree in adult education from Auburn in 1985 and a master’s degree in theology from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in 1993. according to his bio on the Auburn Athletics website.

From 1991 to 1993 he was co-pastor of New Song Baptist Church in Mobile and then became pastor of New Covenant Baptist Church in New Orleans. In 1995, he became president of IMPACT Ministries in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

He was 61 years old.

The Elmore County Sheriff’s Office, Kowaliga Volunteer Fire Department, Red Hill Volunteer Fire Department, Real Island Volunteer Fire Department and troopers from ALEA’s Highway Patrol Division assisted in the search and recovery efforts.

Soldiers from ALEA’s Marine Patrol Division are investigating.

Not reading this story on the WSFA News app? Get news alerts FASTER and FREE Apple App Store and the Google Play Store!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *