Matthew victim's big lottery win means a beach wedding

WHITEVILLE, North Carolina (WTVD) -- Christina Richardson of Whiteville will be able to have the wedding she always dreamed of thanks to a $100,000 lottery win.

"I got engaged two years ago," Richardson said. "I've always wanted a big beach wedding, and now this will let us have one."

It's been an unlucky year for Richardson and her fiancé after Hurricane Matthew caused significant damage to their home.

"The roof was leaking," Richardson said. "We had to fix the floors and all the house. That's where all of our money was going."

Richardson's luck turned around Thursday when she stopped at Sam's Pit Stop on Sam Potts Highway in Hallsboro and bought a Millionaire Bucks ticket.

"I couldn't say anything after I scratched the ticket," Richardson said. "I just kept thinking, 'Oh my God! Oh my God!' I didn't sleep well last night. I tossed and turned and slept on my wallet."

Richardson claimed her prize Friday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh. After required state and federal tax withholdings, she took home $69,507.

The $20 game launched in January 2016 with three top prizes of $4 million, five $1 million prizes and eight $100,000 prizes. One $4 million prize, one $1 million prize, and two $100,000 prizes remain.

Information from the North Carolina Education Lottery