It may have been a case of mistaken identity or a rare form of lottery fever.
Either way, close to 200 people got treated to dinner Sunday at Buddy Freddy's in Plant City, Florida, by someone who appeared to be Gloria C. MacKenzie, the 84-year-old Zephyrhills woman who stepped forward last week to claim the largest single jackpot in American lottery history.
Whether it was MacKenzie is unknown, but that hasn't stopped speculation at the restaurant near the Thonotosassa Road exit of Interstate 4.
"It sure looked like her," manager Stephanie Reaves said. "She looked like the woman on TV."
Reaves said she was accompanied by another woman and a younger man. They ate, left around 4 p.m. and then the woman returned, offering to buy meals for 180 diners.
The tab: close to $2,600. She even gave $50 to each of the five servers.
"Everybody got up and applauded and started hugging her," Reaves said. "In my 35 years in the restaurant industry, I've never seen anything like it."
But when asked later, "She said she wasn't the one who won, but she sure fit the description."
Wow that was super nice...I would have probably did it too but I would have done it on my way out....that way everyone would have been looking around whipsering and wondering "who was that who paid for our meal?"
wow..there goes low profile. Nice gesture though!!
That was very nice of her, wtg.
Wow, that is very nice. Enjoy yourself Ms. Mackenzie!!! I want to go to Buddy Freddy's too in Plant City, FL.
And the lovely staff at Buddy Freddy's! Invest/save that $50.00!
oooo so sweet
Now that is America!
Very nice gesture. How about doing it every day for at least 90 days?.
Oh God here we go again. Can't wait to read comments about how it's not enough and she should have tipped more.
Does this mean she owes "groceries for life" to all who ate there that night?
do they have chicken like popeyes
That was very nice of her to tip that much and to pay for everyone's meal.
Breakfast buffet for $5.99. That's a pretty good deal for all you can eat. I think I'm getting hungry.
The best buffets I've ever had were in Las Vegas. The good ones cost a lot more than $5.99. There was prime rib, shrimp, sushi, scallops, crepes (savory and sweet), and lots of yummy stuff.
Really kind gesture, Gloria, or her doppelganger?
since she's out Blowing money maybe she should buy Mindy and the kids some groceries, seems like that would be the right thing to do instead of paying for everyones meals for people she don't know she should think of the person who made this WIN possible for her in the first place.
Wow I wish something like this
could happen here in the Bahamas. Good deeds though lady, if i was there id be celebrating like this 
lol.
How SWEET!!!!!
When I was growing up I would hear people saying "How happy the people in China would be to get a meal like that", now they're saying it about the people in Florida.
why do people react to this news very differently than the other news where another recent Powerball winner who promised to pay rent for everybody in his block?
Kind gesture from whomever senior woman it was!
Next, I wonder if this food benefactor [or other inspired wealthy person(s)] will go to a food kitchen, where moneyless people dine when they can't afford to treat themselves to a meal out?
Most of you could never be satisfied...Regardless,Is there any joy or love in your life.
I think it was a lovely gesture!!! Good for her!
I am not sure why the reactions are different. Hopefully someone will clue us in. I remember I was one of the few on here who was defending Pedro Quezada'ss nice gesture. Lots of guys were predicting he would be broke within 2 years.
A very kind gesture. I cannot understand how anyone could say she is flaunting her money around. She even tried to deny she was the PB winner.
Maringo:
With Pedro, it was far more open ended and vague. This PB winner had a set group where she could just pay for the meals on her way out the door and she made no promises in advance.
I thought he promised to pay rent for only that month
if that was the case then saying he would be broke within a couple of years was an exaggeration.
Anyways I am happy the person in Florida fed these people and tipped the waiters. Very generous, very kind.
I also defended Pedro's right to pay peoples rent if he wanted to, but I think this woman is just trying to clear up her conscience for ripping off Mindy and her daughter.
Is "Euro-American" the same as calling me white?
Of course it is.
It is the same as you guys referring to other ethnic groups as: African/afro-American, Native American, Mexican American, Asian-American..etc
Yeah Ronnie316 I remember we were in the same side in the Pedro argument.
But about Gloria, do you really believe that she ripped off Mindy & her daughter? According to the story, if its to be believed, Mindy was given the chance to get served in her rightful position but she declined. Put this in another way, supposing she ended up getting the winning ticket after declining to take her rightful place and letting Gloria the first position, would she (Mindy) have ripped off the person standing in line behind her?
Oh ok, I see your logic. Are you racist against whites?
Wow,
And you live in America? I don't see it as bigotry, but rather someone with enough testicles to tell it like it is..
I'm racist against racist.
She would have been the rightful winner either way.......
Im sure the old lady knew she would put anyone on the spot who claimed their rightful place in line over an elderly woman....... She "worked" the line to get position and no doubt her is very good at doing it that way.
Thank you! :)
Yes I live in America and I am glad you don't see it as bigotry because it wasn't..lol, just sick of people sugarcoating the truth.
You're welcome : )
I know Mindy said she does not mind that Gloria got the winning ticket and I think its awesome. Personally it would burn me a lot to think of the things I would be able to do had I not been nice. Being *itchy can be rewarding. Its a lesson that Mindy will not forget very soon lol
I am moving to florida, and following this little old lady whenever she goes to Red Lobster.
Some people take "doing the right thing" to the point of doing the wrong thing. She was purposely taken advantage of by an unscrupulous old woman, and I'm sure that Mindy's family will never let her forget it.
I think she should mail out gift certificates upon request.