CLEMMONS, N.C. — A North Carolina woman will be 'lucky for life' and be able to pay for college, thanks to her grandfather.
Peter Beckage won the N.C. Lottery game, Lucky for Life, after buying the ticket on April 14, lottery officials said.
The 85-year-old recently moved in with his daughter to be close to family and often plays the game. He bought the ticket after a Palm Sunday pancakes breakfast with his 22-year-old granddaughter, Kelly Thomas.
The next day, he stayed up late to check the drawing.
"When I got all five, I couldn't believe it," Beckage said. "I had a hard time getting back to sleep I was so excited."
The prize awards $25,000 a year for life, for the rest of the winner's life. Beckage said he wanted to share it with his granddaughter, who will soon be attending UNC-Wilmington, according to lottery officials.
"I knew if I ever won anything big, I would share it," he said. "I'm happy with the little wins, and I'm so happy this is a gift I can give her."
Beckage said the Tuesday after learning he won, he was at church but unable to focus on his prayers. He texted his daughter about his win and what he wanted to do with the prize. They then waited together for Thomas to come home.
"Kelly, how would you like to have $25,000 a year for the rest of your life," Beckage asked his granddaughter.
Thomas was surprised.
"To be able to focus on something I'm passionate about thanks to my grandpa is an amazing gift," she said. "I've always dreamed of being a Catholic school teacher and helping people. This money makes it possible for me."
She said she will use the money to pay for tuition, books and food as she studies at school, according to lottery officials.
Thomas and Beckage claimed the prize at lottery headquarters in Raleigh on April 24. Winners are guaranteed $25,000 a year for life or can take a lump sum of $390,000. Thomas chose to take the annuity, getting $17,688 after taxes.
Beckage bought his ticket at Carlton's Hampton Road Grocery in Clemmons.
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Thanks to mikeintexas for the tip.
That was very nice of Papaw.
Congratulations on your lifetime win.
Congrats on the win. Nice gift Grandpa.
Being she is only 22 and will collect $25 k / yr hopefully for the next 50+ years. She will collect over $1.25 mil compared to the $290,000 lump sum offered.
Congratulations ! That was a very wise gesture
ABSOLUTEY beautiful.
He is mid eighties, still look quite healthy, and i love to see that, so god bless him on MANY years to come in his eighties.
so nice he literally GAVE his beloved grand-daughter the money per year?
It make sense if you're under IMO sixty to get
annuity, still young over time to enjoy it and but then again ANYTHING can go wrong,
where you are needing more and a
LUMP SUM therefore, any age IMO is best!
Good luck to her, love this story. I guess he took care of whatever bills he had and or the house paid off feasibly,
i would assume,
and the rest for her? either way this is beautifull GOD bless him. and her." so nice.
Being set for life! An excellent gift.
He gave her the ticket-she chose the annuity. He lives with her mother--his daughter.
Funnieeeeeee!!!
Lol. You are on a roll this week.
Cassie8620, Please do not take Hearsetrax nor the others to seriously. You know who your real friends are. Continue posting what is in your heart. Good Luck with MM & PB !! You are a valuable member here on LP.
Good luck to her, love this story. I guess he took care of whatever bills he had and or the house paid off feasibly, i would assume, and the rest for her?
Cassie, that's not haw it works. He gave her the ticket to claim. He doesn't get anything paid to himself from the lottery. It's all hers.
What he gets is the satisfaction that his granddaughter will receive $25,000 (before taxes) every year for the rest of her life.
oh thanks. i went back to re-read, and thanks again ZEP.
ABSOLUTELY beautiful. I told both my parents, this, and bff.
Just so nice to read this, god bless him. and his grand-daughter, the family.
G-night.
hi again music and LOL ha ha. yea i am not 1 to focus on anything but good
and to give back the same ya know.
and yea NO 1 like that fool, shall preclude me from doing so, ya know...
i post how i feel, always will in life,and i support others, who show same.et.al..., But, thanks and
Music:
(i didn't even notice!) lol
til you're mentioning it(no time for immaturity or nonsense so i ignored
that 1 post from hearseya know.)
oh! and
yea, i still do not play much PB and MM, i get thousands,every other month(happy with that lol) when i play and win p4's etc., so i stick with that. (Dad still say pb rigged and mm when only "1'" person win lol but thanks.
and good luck to you too, music. g-night.
go check the pick 4 and pick 3 forums.