Gavonna Craig of Lawndale plans to buy his dream home after winning $1 million playing the Ultimate Millions scratch-off game.

Craig, a loom fixer at a textile plant, bought the ticket after coming back
from his 4th of July vacation.

When he scratched it, he was in shock.

“I just kept looking at the ticket,” Craig said. “I couldn’t believe it”.

He started to believe when he claimed his prize Monday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh. He had the choice of taking a $1 million annuity that has 20 payments of $50,000 a year or a lump sum of $600,000. He chose the lump sum and after federal and state tax withholdings received $415,509. He plans to use the money to buy a house.

Craig bought the $30 ticket at Kebo’s Archery Inc. on Polkville Road in Shelby.

Ultimate Millions launched in September 2015 with four top prizes of $10 million, and 18 prizes of $1 million. Two $10 million prizes and seven $1 million prizes remain.

Ticket sales from games like Ultimate Millions made it possible for the lottery to raise more than half a billion dollars for the state last year. For details on how almost $45.6 million in lottery funds has made a difference in Cleveland County, click on the “For Education” section of the lottery’s website.