FRANKLIN
Pinecrest Timber Co., based in Waverly, has donated $24,000 to the Ben S. Dillon Life Center.

The center, named for the Rock Church School’s former principal, who passed away in June, will house a full basketball court and multi-purpose gymnasium, complete with basketball goals and opportunities for other sports, such as volleyball, to compete. Additionally, according to the center’s website, www.bensdillonlifecenter.org, it will house a kitchen, a nursery and up to 11 classrooms that may serve in other capacities, as well as a conference room, bathrooms and two locker rooms.

Michael Everett, president of Pinecrest Timber, cited his family’s closeness to the Dillon family as one of his reasons for donating the funds on behalf of the company. He added that the Everetts were also very close to the late Ben S. Dillon.

Pastors Danny and Jill Dillon of the Rock Church of Franklin and the Rock Church Family thanked Pinecrest Timber and the Everett family for their generosity and support, and described Ben, Danny’s brother, as “one of the greatest people to ever live.”

The Dillon Center will be “90 percent center and 10 percent church” as Danny put it in a previous story. It will serve the community in the way of sports, fitness, wellness, health, education and technology. It will also serve as practice and game facilities for the Rock Church School sports teams. Lastly, the Rock Church will hold services in the facility allowing for the existing “barn” sanctuary to be used for the school and its growing enrollment.

The center broke ground in June of this year and is expected to be complete by early 2019. The Everett family plans to continue to support the Rock Church and the Ben S. Dillon Center as its congregation makes this dream a reality.