North Carolina Woman Couldn't Breathe After Scoring $1 Million Prize

A couple in North Carolina who loves playing the lottery together were surprised to find that one of their tickets led to a million dollar prize.

Penny Edwards, of Wingate, and her husband recently purchased two $30 Millionaire Maker scratch-off tickets from the Xpress Mart on U.S. 74 East. They sat in their car outside taking turns scratching their tickets, Penny taking the odd-number tickets and her husband getting the even numbers, according to a news release from the state lottery. As she scratched off her ticket, she discovered that it won her a $1 million prize.

"We had 14 and 15 so I scratched the 15 and it was boom," she said. "My eyes teared up. I must have been holding my breath because my husband said, 'Breathe, Penny, breathe!'"

Edwards claimed her prize at lottery headquarters on Monday (August 16). She had the choice of accepting the $1 million as an annuity of $50,000 per year for 20 years or take a lump sum, one-time payment of $600,000. She chose the latter, taking home a total of $424,509 after taxes.

So what does she plan to do with her newfound winnings? While some people choose to purchase an extravagant car or home, Edwards is taking a more practical approach.

"It's going to come in real handy," she said. "It is paying off bills and saving for retirement."