AUBURN, Ala. – The Rev. Chette Williams, chaplain of the Auburn football team for 26 seasons, died Sunday at age 61 in an accident at Lake Martin.

Williams, affectionately known as Brother Chette, served as the Auburn football team’s chaplain since 1999, completing his 26th season in 2024.

A former Auburn linebacker from 1982 to 1984, Williams helped the Tigers win three bowl games, including the 1984 Sugar Bowl, which capped the 1983 SEC championship season.

Williams was licensed as a pastor in 1987 and ordained as a priest in 1988. He received a bachelor’s degree in adult education from Auburn University in 1985 and a Master of Divinity from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in 1993.

Before returning to Auburn, Williams was past president of IMPACT Ministries in Spartanburg, South Carolina from 1995 to 1999, after serving as pastor of New Covenant Baptist Church in New Orleans and co-pastor of New Song Baptist Church in Mobile from 1993 to 1995. Alabama was. from 1991-93.

Williams is the author of 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 football chaplain at Auburn, Williams also served as campus director of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at Auburn and state director for Urban Ministries at FCA.

Williams is survived by his daughters Lauren and Caitlyn. His son Chette Jr. predeceased him in 2019.