Christmas came early Monday for Veronica Gibson of Charlotte when she claimed a Cash 5 jackpot of $116,660.
The early present came in the form of a Cash 5 ticket she bought Wednesday Dec.16th that won the drawing that same night. Gibson said she didn’t even check the ticket until the next day. She only remembered to look when she found out her mom won $8 on a Powerball ticket.

Gibson was lying across the bed when she realized her numbers matched. “I started screaming, ‘Mamma, Mamma, Mamma!’” she said. “My son thought something had happened to my mom I was screaming so loud.” Gibson said she can’t believe she won and keeps “expecting to wake up”.

Gibson bought the ticket at the Simon’s Mart located at 6308 The Plaza in Charlotte. She claimed her prize Monday, and after required state and federal withholdings she took home $80,787.

Gibson said she just wants to help people. She plans to share the money with her mom, brother, and sons who all came to help celebrate her win. She hopes things are “going to be a little easier” in the New Year.

The estimated jackpot for Monday’s Cash 5 drawing is $53,000.

Ticket sales made it possible for the lottery to raise more than half a billion dollars for the state last year. For details on how over $352 million in lottery funds have made a difference in Mecklenburg County, click on the “Where the Money Goes” section of the lottery’s website.