RALEIGH – Beverly Hall of Leland plans to use the $150,000 she won playing the Golden 7’s game to pay off her mortgage.

“I’ve always wanted to know the relief of paying off my house and now I can do just that,” Hall said. “I’m going to use whatever is left over to make it a very merry Christmas. This is a real blessing.”

Hall, who owns and operates a residential and commercial cleaning business, learned of her big win while sitting in her car outside the Han-Dee Hugo on Eastwood Road in Wilmington, where she purchased the winning ticket.

“I thought I’d won my five dollars back,” Hall said. “When I scratched off the prize I just started screaming and hollering.”

After state and federal taxes were withheld, Hall received a check for $103,801. As of Thursday afternoon, four more $150,000 top prizes remain to be claimed in the $5 game.

Ticket sales have made it possible for the lottery to raise more than $3.5 billion for the state. North Carolina Education Lottery net proceeds will be used this year to help pay salaries of teachers and teacher assistants, for pre-kindergarten programs for at-risk four-year-olds, school construction and repair, and need-based college scholarships and financial aid.

For details on how more than $24 million in lottery funds have made a difference in Brunswick County, click on the “Where the Money Goes” tab on the lottery’s website.