A nurse in North Carolina received a phone call that changed her life last week. Terri Watkins of Durham County, North Carolina, was informed by state lottery officials that she won a $1 million prize.
Watkins played the lottery’s $300,000,000 Supreme Riches second-chance drawing. Winners receive a phone call or email informing them of their winnings. Hers was one of 513,000 entrants in the second-chance drawing.
“I thought that it was not real, couldn’t be real. It’s still something that I really don’t believe, I’m still in some shock here,” Watkins told lottery officials.
Watkins is a nurse in a COVID-19 unit at a long-term care facility.
“Just seeing some of the things that I’ve had to see, I am very thankful. I had been praying for something to help me with this situation. It really is a great thing. I’m very blessed,” she said.
Watkins claimed the prize at lottery headquarters last week. She opted to take a lump-sum payment, which after taxes, gave her a take-home amount of $424,500.
“I’m just gonna take it slow and easy and figure out what I’m gonna do,” said Watkins. “I would love a new home, but I’ve just got to take time and put it in the right place.”