A single mother from Shallotte has come forward to claim her $188 million Powerball prize, making her the largest jackpot winner in state history.
Until recently, Marie Holmes, 26, supported her four children by working jobs at Wal-Mart, Food Lion, KFC, McDonald’s and Subway, according to a news release from the N.C. Education Lottery.
Holmes matched all six numbers in the Feb. 11 Powerball drawing, winning a third of the $564 million jackpot.
N.C. Education Lottery Executive Director Alice Garland presented Holmes with a check celebrating her $188 million win on Monday.
“I am humbled and grateful for the opportunities this has created for my family,” Holmes said.
Holmes, an occasional lottery player, asked her mom to get her a ticket because the jackpot had grown so large. Her lucky ticket was sold at the Scotchman on Whiteville Road in Shallotte.
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“I started screaming and jumping around,” the former high school basketball star recalled. “I said to my kids, ‘You just don’t understand what this means.’”
Holmes sought financial and legal advice before claiming her prize money. After consulting with her attorney, Charles Francis, Holmes opted for the $127 million lump sum payment. The after-tax winnings of $87.9 million, Holmes said, will allow her to cement several important goals, according to the news release.
Holmes plans to tithe to religious and charitable organizations, finish her college degree, buy her mother a house, and secure the future for her three daughters and her 7-year-old son who has cerebral palsy.
“I hope that this moment can shine a light on the challenges faced by children and adults with cerebral palsy,” Holmes said. “Not everyone understands what cerebral palsy is, and what it means to a family. I hope our story can help change that.”
Holmes’ win marks the sixth time since the N.C. Education Lottery began that a player has won a multimillion dollar jackpot playing Powerball or Mega Millions. Her win eclipses the previous jackpot record-holder Frank Griffin, a retired firefighter from Asheville who won $141.4 million playing Powerball in February 2010.
