Lula McGhee of Granville County said her good luck at winning half of Wednesday’s $386,892 Cash 5 jackpot could not have come at a better time.

A retired CNA from Oxford, McGhee had one of two tickets that matched all five numbers in the drawing and she claimed her half, $193,446, on Friday. She used her own lucky numbers on a ticket purchased at the Pic N Save on Hillsboro Street in Oxford.

McGhee said the win was “a mighty blessing.” She said her after-tax winnings, $133,965, will allow her to pay off the car loan on her 2013 Nissan and pay off her bills. But the best part, she said, is she can put on a better birthday party for her husband of 54 years as they celebrate with their three children, seven grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.

“I’m very happy,” McGhee said Friday, “because my husband will be celebrating his 80th birthday. I was wondering where I was going to get the money for the party. This will be a blessing to help us set it up the way we would like to.”

The other half of Wednesday’s jackpot went to Raylanda McIntyre of Havelock, who also claimed her prize on Friday. She said she used lucky numbers suggested by her fiancé to buy a ticket at the Kangaroo Express on Main Street in Havelock.

To discover how half a billion dollars a year make a difference for education in every county, visit nclottery.com and click on the "For Education" page.