Linda Jones’ 67th birthday turned ‘Platinum’ after her husband Earnest won $100,000 and said he would “spend it on her.”

“It’s the best birthday gift I could imagine,” said Linda, who lives in Kernersville. “I still can’t believe it.”

Her good luck happened Sunday morning when she and her husband stopped at the Petro 66 on West Bodenhamer Street in Kernersville and bought a $4,000,000 Platinum Payout ticket.

“We were on the way home from my birthday breakfast,” Linda said. “My husband decided he wanted to get us some scratch-off tickets. He bought one for both of us. I didn’t win anything, but he did. He said, ‘Babe! I won! I won big!’ We both started crying we were so happy.”

“I had to look at the ticket twice before I’d believe it,” said Linda’s husband, Earnest. “Of course I’m spending it on her.”

The couple claimed the prize Monday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh. After required state and federal tax withholdings, they took home $70,507. Earnest says he plans to use some of the money to pay off his wife’s new Chevy Tahoe.

The $20 ticket launched in September 2016 with three $4 million prizes, five $1 million prizes and 12 $100,000 prizes. One $4 million prize, one $1 million prize, and two $100,000 prizes remain.

Ticket sales from games like $4,000,000 Platinum Payout make it possible for the lottery to raise more than $600 million a year for education. For details on how $20.2 million in lottery funds made a difference in Forsyth County last year, click on the “Impact” section of the lottery’s website at www.nclottery.com.