For James and Maxine Hilliker of Lumberton, North Carolina, a tradition of playing the lottery together led to a $768,862 Cash 5 jackpot win a week before their 70th wedding anniversary.
"Our wedding anniversary is next week and today is my 90th birthday," said James after receiving the big check. "I can't even believe this is real. I just can't believe it."
For the Hillikers, playing Cash 5 together is a weekly tradition that has become a special part of their morning routine.
"We go to the same store every Tuesday," said Maxine. "We always play the same numbers. I've been playing them for over 22 years in California, Florida and now North Carolina. We use my birthday, my husband's birthday, and the birthdays of my three sisters. We've never won anything big."
Little did the Hillikers know, when they stopped by the Sun-Do Kwik Shop on North Roberts Avenue in Lumberton and purchased a seven-day multidraw Cash 5 ticket, their fun tradition wouldn't feel quite as normal this time around.
James found out they had the only winning ticket for Saturday's drawing while reading the newspaper Monday morning. He didn't tell Maxine right away because he didn't want to spoil the surprise until they checked their numbers together, just like they do every morning.
"I always read them out to her," said James. "I call out the numbers and she writes them down and checks them."
Wanting to keep Maxine from noticing something was different this time, James started the routine with his favorite line.
"I told her, 'I think you're going to like these numbers today,'" said James recalling the moment. Maxine then said, like she always does, 'You always say that and we only ever match three numbers!' So I read them out and she looked shocked. Then she told me to read those again. So I read them out again."
"I told him that I had them all," said Maxine. "I had every single number."
The Hillikers claimed their prize Thursday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh. After required state and federal tax withholdings, they took home $543,970. They said they plan to take a cruise with the money, but are not sure what to do with the rest yet.
Cash 5 is a statewide draw game that gives players the chance to win a jackpot every single night. Tickets cost $1 and players can buy tickets at most lottery retailers or through Online Play on the lottery's website. The jackpot for Friday's drawing is $250,000.
Sure made me smile, beautiful well written story on their big lottery win. NCEL is probably the last state lottery they'll play unless they venture out of state to play. Perseverance certainly paid off handsomely for this feel good story.
What a great story!
i am loving this congrats. i am so happy for them, both.
My parents happily still "in love" and have that real true love,
that do not exist for alot,of folks for past decade or 2 decades..." LOL
but they have MORE CASH and REAL LOVE and true to life both and i am smiling reading and i am very happy to see this couple, going strong,like my folks married almost 64 yrs in june. I hope they get to enjoy $$$the cash some of it, and live healthier and well like BETTY WHITE who i think just turned in 2020 "98."
Congratulations you two... Congrats!
It must be nice to win enough money to last the rest of your life. It must sukc to wait until you're 90 before it finally happens.
Well done James and Maxine...
This calls for a celebration.
So happy for this wonderful couple! Patience and Persistence pays off!!
So happy for both of them...same thing happened one time for an older couple here in Greensboro when he & his wife won the 12 million dollar mega millions jackpot (1st one here in NC) & took home 7.7 million back in 2010. He had played the
same numbers since the lottery started here in 2006 & they were birthdays in the family too.
I knew his sister and she told me he won before he claimed it and I did not believe her but she finally convinced me
he did....he got all of his ducks in a row before he claimed it a little over a month later...bought an RV and left town right after he and his wife got the money for the western part of the US.
I used to buy my tickets on the way home from my job at the claims office here and I told them I knew someone who won but had not come forward and when I described him to them they said someone fit that description who had come in and ask a lot of questions about if someone won...he knew he'd have to go to Raleigh to get it.
I didn't tell them who it was....don't think if I won I would be able to wait a month to come forward.
Here's the link to it.
https://www.lotterypost.com/news/217158
Just read it and saw this post from rdgrnr on there who we never found out what happened to him
as he suddenly stopped posting...he was such a funny and nice man...we miss him so much!
https://www.lotterypost.com/news/217158/1713868
Cute story and I hope they get many more years to enjoy it together.
Playing the same numbers every drawing is a common playing strategy and it certainly paid off for this couple!
What a beautiful 70th wedding anniversary present. $543,970.00!! Playing the same numbers for 22 years.
Happy 90th birthday James!
Ah, lovely! I hope they enjoy their win.