Lonnie Graham of Charlotte is feeling better than good after winning Thursday’s Carolina Cash jackpot of $110,000.
“I’m like Tony the Tiger,” said Graham. “I’m Gr-r-reat!”
Graham bought the lucky $1 Quick Pick on Thursday at the Smoker’s Depot on South Tryon Street in Charlotte. When he went back to the store the next day to scan his ticket, he heard a sound he had never heard before.
“I heard the winning sound,” said Graham. “And I couldn’t believe it. My head just dropped.”
The owner of the store sat Graham down to give him the good news – how much he had won.
“He’s always joking around with me,” said Graham. “He said, ‘I know you won’t believe me, but you won $110,000.’ Then he took care of me, made sure I was all right before going home. That’s how in shock I was!”
Graham claimed his ticket Friday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh. After required state and federal withholding, he took home $77,825. He plans to put the money towards retirement.
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 Monday’s Cash 5 drawing is $164,000.
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 $61.9 million in lottery funds made a difference in Mecklenburg County last year, click on the “Impact” section of the lottery’s website.