Cleveland County woman ‘overjoyed’ to win $200,000 prize

March 12, 2021 Posted by NC Lottery at 8:10 AM

When Charlene Ratchford of Shelby won $5 on a scratch-off ticket, she decided to try again and ended up winning a $200,000 prize.

“I feel so overjoyed,” she said as she claimed her prize Thursday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh. “I’m happy. I can’t believe that I actually won. I’m just so excited.”

Ratchford, who works as an assembler, purchased her winning ticket from the Curve View Quick Shop on Fallston Road in Shelby.

“I scratched it off later on that night and I was just in shock,” she recalled. “I couldn’t believe it.”

After required federal and state tax withholdings, Ratchford took home $141,501.

"I’m going to take care of my family and take care of my bills,” she said. “And also, my mama. Anything she needs or wants, she got it!”

CA$H PLU$ launched this month with six top prizes of $200,000. Four remain to be won.

9 COMMENTS

3/14/2021 10:23 - Tony T.

funny some here ask winning tickets to be placed in other parts of the state near where they live. that'd be doing just what they're blaming & complaining the lottery of doing (keeping winning tickets in a certain area) which the lottery isn't doing. Also, they're have been a lot of winners in Durham. remember, chances of LOSING are always far greater than WINNING.

3/14/2021 01:38 - Charles H.

This has to be the worst $5.00 ticket ever issued by the NCEL. I have bought 15 and so far only 1 winner for $20.00. This woman wins $200,000 and I only get $20.00. It's definitely not fair.

3/13/2021 06:53 - Alexis E.

Congratulations to you Charlene

3/12/2021 08:31 - Mary H.

Congratulations :)

3/12/2021 06:26 - Gloria C.

Congratulations to you and I wish you many more wonderful wins. Glad to know you going to help your family.

3/12/2021 05:50 - ruby t.

the west part of the state are still winning big bucks how about some of that on the eastern part of the state for a couple of years we would like to win too thanks

3/12/2021 05:42 - ruby t.

we need winning big monies on the scratch off tickets on the eastern part of nc instead of them mostly on the western part how about it for a couple years switching their tickets for ours I know ya'll know where they are going thanks

3/12/2021 03:32 - wendy m.

It's really weird to me that I have never heard of anyone winning big in Durham on scratch off tickets they are always in small towns it's like the lottery doesn't send any winning scratch off tickets to Durham.NC Lottery
Hi Wendy, here's a link to a scratch-off winner story from Durham a couple months ago: https://nclottery.com/NewsBlogDetails/2020/11/20/Durham-County-woman-wins-150000-prize-instantly. Winning scratch-off tickets are randomly distributed throughout the state and we don't know where they are until a winner claims their prize. Good luck!

3/12/2021 12:28 - James J.

Anyone around Cleveland and Gaton Counties hit your lottery retailers, the hot hand is in that area for sure

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Cleveland County woman ‘overjoyed’ to win $200,000 prize

March 12, 2021 Posted by NC Lottery at 8:10 AM

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