N.C. woman hits Cash 5 jackpot for second time

Jan 17, 2017, 12:03 pm (20 comments)

North Carolina Lottery

A North Carolina woman plans to live debt-free this year, after she won a Cash 5 jackpot in the state lottery on Thursday, her second Cash 5 win over the years.

Lisa Williard of Harmony first beat the odds in 2008, when she won $363,041, lottery officials said. Thursday night, she and two other people won the $1,065,423 jackpot.

"It's like being struck by lightning twice," Williard told lottery officials. "What are the odds?"

The odds of winning a Cash 5 jackpot are 1 in 749,398, officials said.

Williard bought several Quick Pick tickets for Thursday's drawing at Barker's Log Cabin Grocery Too on Harmony Highway in Harmony.

When she checked her first ticket, she saw that she matched four numbers to win $250, lottery officials said .

"I got excited," Williard told lottery officials. "And was like, 'Yes! We're all going to dinner.'"

When she checked her next ticket and saw she matched all five numbers, she was in shock.

"I started shaking," Williard said. "All I could say was, 'Oh my God, Oh my God.' I didn't sleep at all last night."

Willard claimed her prize Friday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh, receiving a third of the jackpot, $355,141. After required state and federal tax withholdings, she took home $246,826. She plans to use the money to pay off her mortgage.

"2017 debt-free," Williard said. "That's our new motto."

The other winning tickets were sold at the Kangaroo Express on South Polk Street in Pineville and Stanleyville Grocery on North Patterson Avenue in Winston Salem. Winners have 180 days to claim their prize.

News story photo(Click to display full-size in gallery)

Charlotte Observer, Lottery Post Staff

Comments

music*'s avatarmusic*

 Love to see Happy Winners!!Big Smile Congratulations Lisa Williard.

Raven62's avatarRaven62

Don't Stop Now: Try for a Third Win!

zephbe's avatarzephbe

Congrats and keep on playing Smile

IPlayWeekly's avatarIPlayWeekly

Very cool

dallascowboyfan's avatardallascowboyfan

Congratulations Lisa.... I wish Oklahoma had a game like that.

gregs241's avatargregs241

CONGRATS! to her. A short comment-Pick 5 games are the best odds to win jackpots. Wi. average is about 100 jackpots won per year for the Badger5 5/31 game (daily draw).

Bleudog101

This is it American Indian, we need to win too!  Congratulations on her second jackpot and good head on her shoulders.

sully16's avatarsully16

Congrats Lisa, enjoy. Party

ressuccess's avatarressuccess

Wow that is amazing!

sam9009's avatarsam9009

Nice.

HaveABall's avatarHaveABall

Quote: Originally posted by sam9009 on Jan 18, 2017

Nice.

I Agree!

ronki

she must live in a Mansion what happen with the first win must of been the down payment

Soledad

It's always good to buy more than one quick pick.

LottoYear

Quote: Originally posted by ronki on Jan 19, 2017

she must live in a Mansion what happen with the first win must of been the down payment

Unfortunately too many lottery winners just blow their winnings.  With the first win she probably gave some money to family, took vacations, and bought more lottery tickets, everything but pay off bills.

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