Teacher needed money to get surgery. NC lottery jackpot will fund that and more

A lottery jackpot seldom comes when a play needs it the most, but it just happened for a high school teacher in North Carolina.

Tonya Carter of Warrenton “rarely plays the lottery,” which only adds to the sheer coincidence that she needed money and won $1 million.

Carter is “still in shock” at beating odds of 1 in 1,398,273.75 to get the top prize in Jumbo Bucks.

“I’m going to have surgery ... so I wanted to try to get some extra money to help with that,” Carter said in an N.C. Education Lottery July 18 news release.

“I’ve only played the lottery once or twice before. ... My friends did always tell me that if I played, I would be the one to win.”

Carter bought the $10 scratch-off ticket at On The Mark convenience store in Warrenton.

She discovered her win July 17, and picked up her money the next day at lottery headquarters in Raleigh.

Jackpots of $1 million or more come with a choice of getting the prize as a lesser lump sum check or taking a $50,000 annuity for 20 years.

“She chose the lump sum of $600,000 and, after required state and federal tax withholdings, took home $430,503,” lottery officials said.

If Carter has money left over after paying her surgery bills, she intends to use it for moving costs, officials said.

Warrenton is about a 55-mile drive northeast from Raleigh.

This story was originally published July 21, 2025 at 9:38 AM with the headline "Teacher needed money to get surgery. NC lottery jackpot will fund that and more."