Woodrow Boyd II of Granville County started off the New Year by collecting a lottery prize that will pay him $130,000 a year every year for the rest of his life.

Boyd, a technician for a utility company, won the top prize in the $2,500 a Week for Life! instant game. He could have chosen a lump sum payment, but instead decided to take the annuity. The annuity option guarantees at least $2.6 million to Boyd or his estate – but could add up to more as it continues making annual payments as long as Boyd lives.

“It is unbelievable,” said Boyd on Friday as he claimed his prize with his wife and son. He said since he is 58 years old that he thought the annuity would work best for him and his family. After taxes were withheld, his first payment was $90,026.
“I’ve got a few investment ideas, and it may allow us to retire earlier than we would have otherwise,’ Boyd said.

The game is part of a family of four instant games that the Education Lottery always has on sale. The tickets are available for $1, $2, $5 and $10 per game and include prizes of as much as $5,000 a week for life. Boyd’s lucky $5 ticket was purchased at Moore’s Grocery on Cornwall Road in Oxford.

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 $18.2 million in lottery funds have made a difference in Granville County, click on the “Where the Money Goes” tab on the lottery’s website.