Thanks to lucky birthday numbers, James Johnson of Rocky Mount will start his 69th year with a $109,619 Cash 5 jackpot.

“I’ve been using the same numbers for three years,” Johnson said. “I always use a combination of my birthday, my wife’s birthday, and my grandchildren’s birthdays.”

He couldn’t believe it when he found out his win beat the odds of 1 in 749,398. He matched all 5 numbers in the June 6 drawing.

“I put my hands up in the air and said, ‘Oh yeah!’” the retired UPS worker said.

Johnson says it’s a perfect way to celebrate turning another year older.

“It’s a great birthday present to myself,” Johnson said.

He claimed his prize Thursday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh. After required state and federal tax withholdings, he took home $76,186. He plans to use the money to remodel his house.

“We’ve got two bedrooms upstairs that we want to update,” Johnson said.
He bought the $1 ticket at the Sheetz on North Wesleyan Boulevard in Rocky Mount.

Ticket sales from games like Cash 5 made it possible for the lottery to raise more than $634 million for the state last year. For details on how lottery funds have made a difference in Edgecombe County, click on the “For Education” section of the lottery’s website.