"I've only played the lottery once or twice before," she told the North Carolina Education Lottery. "My friends did always tell me that if I played, I would be the one to win."
Carter, a high school teacher, said she bought a ticket on Thursday to help pay for a medical procedure.
"I'm going to have surgery next week, so I wanted to try to get some extra money to help with that," she said.
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She bought a $10 Jumbo Bucks ticket from On The Mark on U.S. 158 Business West in Warrenton.
"I didn't believe it," Carter recalled. "I'm still in shock."
Carter had the choice between $50,000 over 20 years or a lump sum of $600,000. She chose the lump sum of $600,000 and, after required state and federal tax withholdings, took home $430,503.
In addition to her surgery, Carter said she plans to use her winnings to help move.