Paul Bray Jr. of Reidsville said he seldom plays the lottery, but took a chance Friday when he got a lucky feeling and saw his $10 ticket grow into a $1 million prize.

“I thought it was $1,000 at first,” Bray said. “But I just kept seeing zeroes.”

Bray, 57, bought his Big Cash Payout ticket from the S & L Country Market on U.S. 158 in Reidsville.

“I’m just a country boy and I’ve never won anything like this,” Bray said. “I almost had a heart attack.”

When Bray arrived at lottery headquarters Monday, he had a decision to make. He could choose to receive the prize as an annuity of $50,000 over 20 years or a lump sum of $600,000. He chose the lump-sum amount of $600,000 and, after required state and federal tax withholdings, took home $426,063.

Bray said he is planning to use the winnings to build a house for himself and his wife.

The Big Cash Payout game launched in December with four top prizes of $1 million. One top prize remains to be claimed.

Ticket sales from scratch-off games make it possible for the lottery to raise more than $900 million per year for education. For details on $4.7 million raised by the lottery made a difference in Rockingham County in 2020, visit www.nclottery.com and click on the “Impact” section.