Loyd Hall of Beulaville wanted to immediately tell his family after a $30 scratch-off won him a $100,000 top prize.

“I told my son and he thought I was joking,” Hall laughed. “My daughter is the only one who believed me.”

Hall bought his lucky $100,000 Cash Payday ticket from J&N Grocery on Beulaville Highway in Richlands.

“I had to look at it a couple times just to make sure,” Hall recalled.

He arrived at lottery headquarters Wednesday to claim his prize and after required state and federal tax withholdings, took home $72,018.

“I’m living the dream,” Hall said.

He plans to use his winnings to pay bills and do some projects around the house.

The $100,000 Cash Payday game debuted in March with 80 $100,000 top prizes. Seventy-one $100,000 prizes remain to be claimed.

Duplin County has received state grants totaling over $32 million from monies raised by the lottery to renovate a high school. For details on other ways money raised by the lottery made a difference in Duplin County, visit www.nclottery.com and click on the “Impact” section.