Cedric McBroom, a U.S. postal worker, is usually the one delivering good news to others, but on Tuesday a scratch-off ticket delivered a $1 million prize to him.
“I’m excited,” said McBroom, of Greensboro. “I can’t even really describe how I feel yet.”
McBroom bought the lucky $4,000,000 Diamond Dazzler ticket on his way to work Monday morning when he stopped at the Dong Phuong Oriental Market on Farmington Drive in Greensboro. He put the $20 ticket in his truck console and forgot about it.
While getting ready for work the next morning, he heard his son shouting from the garage, “Dad! Dad! Am I seeing what I think I’m seeing?”
McBroom’s son walked in with the ticket scratched off to reveal the $1 million prize. McBroom couldn’t believe his eyes.
“We called his brother into the room,” he said. “We wanted to make sure we were all seeing the same thing. Once we all realized it was real, we just did like a three-way hug and jumped up and down.”
McBroom claimed his prize Tuesday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh. He had the choice of taking an annuity that has 20 payments of $50,000 a year or a lump sum of $600,000. He chose the lump sum. After required state and federal tax withholdings, he took home $424,506.
“We’ll put most of it in savings,” said McBroom. “I want to help my sons with the next steps in their lives, whether it’s moving out or getting a car. It would be nice for us to take a trip to visit my wife’s family in California.”
McBroom says there may be one extra stop on their family vacation.
“Of course we’ll have to stop in Vegas first,” he said. “Since I’m on the luckiest streak of my life!”
Ticket sales from instant games like $4,000,000 Diamond Dazzler make it possible for the lottery to raise more than $650 million a year for the state. For details on how $33.2 million in lottery funds have made a difference in Guilford County, click on the “Impact” section of the lottery’s website.
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