Transylvania County woman wins $2 million on a scratch-off ticket

Dean Hensley, Hendersonville Times-News
·2 min read
Pisgah Forest's Melba Avery poses with her $2 million check after winning a scratch off in Transylvania County.
Pisgah Forest's Melba Avery poses with her $2 million check after winning a scratch off in Transylvania County.

PISGAH FOREST - A Western North Carolina woman's purchase of a $20 Premier Cash ticket has changed her life, as she ended up winning $2 million on the scratch off.

According to a news release from the North Carolina Education State Lottery, Melba Avery purchased her ticket from One Stop 3 on Hendersonville Highway in Pisgah Forest.

"When I saw how much I won, I immediately fell to my knees,” said Avery in the news release. “The lady at the register told me I had to claim at an office.”

Avery is a US Forest Service cafeteria supervisor. When she claimed her prize Feb. 3 at lottery headquarters, she had the choice of receiving the prize as an annuity of $100,000 over 20 years or a lump sum of $1.2 million. She chose the $1.2 million lump sum, and after required federal and state withholdings, took home $855,006, according to the release.

“I’ll be able to live comfortably,” said Avery. “And I can take care of my family.”

She also said she plans on purchasing “the car of her dreams” and maybe start a new business.

“I can get the car of my dreams,” said Avery. “Maybe I’ll get an Infiniti or an Escalade in cream or black.”

She said she plans to seek professional financial advice to help manage her winnings. In addition to trading in her car, she plans to help her church and eventually start a landscaping or courier business, the release said.

The Premier Cash game debuted in August 2021 with four top prizes of $2 million and eight $100,000 prizes. Since Avery won the last top prize, the lottery will end the game.

According to the NC Education Lottery, ticket sales from lottery games make it possible for the lottery to raise more than $2.5 million a day on average for education. For details on how $1.9 million raised by the lottery made a difference in Transylvania County in 2022, visit www.nclottery.com and click on the “Impact” section.

This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: Transylvania County woman wins $2 million on a scratch-off ticket