For Robert Terry Jr. of Ayden, a pit stop after getting a cup of coffee turned into a $100,000 lottery win.
Terry, a Vietnam veteran, was on his way home from getting his coffee when he decided to stop at the Ayden Mini Mart on Lee Street. While he was there he bought a $4,000,000 Platinum Payout scratch-off ticket.
“I don’t know why I decided to stop there,” Terry said.
But he was glad he did after he realized he won $100,000.
“I couldn’t believe it at first,” Terry said. “I thought, ‘Is this ticket right?’”
He showed the $20 ticket to his wife to make sure he wasn’t seeing things.
He wasn’t, and he claimed his prize Tuesday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh. After required state and federal tax withholdings, he took home $69,256. He plans to use the money to help his children and grandchildren.
$4,000,000 Platinum Payout launched with three $4 million prizes, five $1 million prizes, and 12 $100,000 prizes. All top prizes and 11 $100,000 prizes remain.
Ticket sales from games like $4,000,000 Platinum Payout made it possible for the lottery to raise more than $600 million dollars for the state last year. For details on how more than $65.7 million in lottery funds has made a difference in Pitt County, click on the “For Education” section of the lottery’s website.