A burst of emotion broke out in a Robeson County convenience store Wednesday morning when Carissa Jones of Pembroke and her husband won a $4 million scratch-off prize.
“I started crying,” she recalled. “My husband was jumping up and down and then he ran behind the counter and hugged the cashier.”
Jones bought her lucky $30 Black Titanium ticket from the Quick Stop on Middle Street in Maxton. She said she already has a plan for her winnings.
“I’m going to build my dream home,” she said.
Jones said her brother, an architect, will help her.
“He drew the plans up for me years ago,” she said. “I didn’t know when it would happen but I knew it would one day. And now it can.”
When Jones arrived at lottery headquarters Wednesday, she had a choice to make. She could choose to receive the prize as an annuity of $200,000 over 20 years or a lump sum of $2.4 million. She chose the lump sum of $2.4 million and, after required state and federal tax withholdings, took home $1,716,009.
In addition to her dream home, Jones plans to give some of her winnings to her church.
“This is a big blessing,” she said.
The Black Titanium game debuted in June with six $4 million prizes and 16 $100,000 prizes. Three $4 million prizes and seven $100,000 prizes remain to be claimed.
The state provided $50 million in grants, using money raised by the lottery, to help Robeson County build a new career and technology high school. For details on other ways Robeson County benefits from lottery funds, visit www.nclottery.com and click on the “Impact” section.
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