William Martin "Bill" Chamberlain, the 2nd African American basketball player at UNC Chapel Hill was born on December 16, 1949 in Harlem, New York. Bill was the youngest son of the late Pearl and Martin Chamberlain. He received his early education in New York Public Schools and graduated from Long Island Lutheran High School in 1968. He was an All-American basketball player, receiving over 100 scholarship offers.

Bill chose to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He played three seasons under legendary Tar Heels coach Dean Smith. During these three years, Carolina compiled a 70 – 20 overall record, winning the ACC Tournament and advancing to the Final Four in 1972. Bill also earned MVP honors for his play at the NIT in 1971, before receiving second-team All-American accolades during his last year.  As a student athlete, he earned an B.A. in Sociology in 1972.

Upon graduation from UNC, he began his pro career with the Kentucky Colonels and the Memphis Tams in the ABA, and the Phoenix Suns in the NBA. Due to lower back injuries, he left the NBA and played briefly in France. After playing in France, he returned to the United States and worked as an assistant coach at Duquesne University from 1976 to 1979. While at Duquesne he earned his bachelor's degree in general studies from Northwestern State University in Louisiana.

From 1982 until his retirement in 2019, Bill had a long and productive career with various agencies for the State of North Carolina including the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety, Youth Advocacy and Involvement Office, the NC Department of Justice, the Attorney General's Office and the Division of Emergency Management. Always a lover of the game, he also coached basketball for Laurinburg Institute and Scotland County Schools from 1994-2001.

Bill's commitment to the game and social justice was recognized as he was the recipient of an award from the Real Harlem Basketball Players Association, the Lassiter Lee McKissick Trailblazer Award, in addition to other national and local awards. His continued love and passion for the game was evidenced by his desire and willingness to mentor other young basketball players both on and off the court.

Bill was a member of St. Joseph's AME Church in Durham, NC where he served as a steward.

Bill was united in marriage to Ernelle P. Eaton on November 10, 2007. In addition to his wife, he leaves to cherish his memory, his brother, John (Lillian); sons, William "Billy" Chamberlain (Shawaka) and Carlton Chamberlain; grandchildren, Hope, Maleek and Trinity; sisters-in-law, Pam Lacewell and Thalia Ray (Charles); brother-in-law, Floyd Eaton; and a host of nieces and nephews.

At the request of the family, there will be no public viewing.

Memorial services will be held at 12:00pm Monday, July 28, 2025 at St. Joseph AME Church, 2521 Fayetteville Street, Durham, NC 27707.