Sammie Brunson of Laurinburg says a $786,757 Carolina Cash 5 jackpot means he can buy a new home and help out his family – but he isn’t telling anyone just yet.
“I’m keeping it a secret,” said Brunson. “I haven’t told anyone. Not my wife, not my mom, not my sister, not anybody. I’m excited to surprise them.”
Brunson, who works at Plastex Fabricators, bought the lucky $1 Quick Pick at S&A Tobacco House & Gifts on South Main Street in Laurinburg for the May 23 drawing. Working overtime, he was finally able to check his numbers on his break at 2 a.m.
“I checked the numbers on my phone,” said Brunson. “When I saw I had won, I stayed calm. I just put the ticket back in my pocket. But I had to keep pulling out my phone to check again and again!”
Brunson traveled to lottery headquarters in Raleigh on Friday to claim his prize. After required federal and state withholdings, he took home $556,631. Brunson plans to use the winnings to buy a new home and help his family.
“I’m working 12 hour days to help my family,” said Brunson. “I want them to know no matter what happens, I’ve got them. This money will move us all somewhere nice, pay some bills, and buy a new truck for my mom.”
Brunson plans to surprise his family with the news of their good fortune this week.
“They’re probably not going to believe I’m for real,” said Brunson. “But I’m ecstatic; I know they’ll be so happy.”
Cash 5 is a statewide draw game that gives players the chance to win a jackpot every single night. Tickets cost $1 and players can buy tickets at most lottery retailers and through Online Play on the lottery’s website. The jackpot for Wednesday’s Cash 5 drawing is $205,000.
Ticket sales from draw games like Cash 5 make it possible for the lottery to raise more than $650 million a year for education. For details on how $2.9 million in lottery funds made a difference in Scotland County last year, click on the “Impact” section of the lottery’s website.