Grandma of 13 was ‘hollering and running’ in store after life-changing NC lottery win

It’s seldom a good thing when someone runs screaming through a convenience store — unless the lottery is involved.

That’s what Jo Jones did when she realized her ticket was worth $1 million, according to the North Carolina Education Lottery.

It happened Monday, May 27, at the Kwik Stop on U.S. 74 in Rowland, about a 110-mile drive south of Raleigh.

“I started hollering and running through the store. I ran to the front and said, ‘Y’all I won $1 million’,” Jones said in the release. “This still just feels unreal.”

She didn’t say how other shoppers reacted.

Jones, who lives in Pembroke, spent $50 on a $10 Million Spectacular ticket and beat odds of 1-in-813,895.5 to win $1 million, the lottery reports. The $10 million top prize has odds of 1-in-3,255,582.

She showed up at lottery headquarters in Raleigh on Tuesday and had a tough choice: Get it as a lesser lump sum or go for $50,000 a year for 20 years.

Jones went for a lump sum of $600,000, which was whittled down to $429,014 after taxes, the state said.

So how will she spend it?

Jones has 13 grandchildren, so take a guess.

“I always said if I ever win the lottery I’m going to help my children,” she said. “I’ll help them in any way I can.”

This story was originally published May 29, 2024 at 12:34 PM with the headline "Grandma of 13 was ‘hollering and running’ in store after life-changing NC lottery win."