'Wahoo!': Charlotte grandmother to buy new house with $1M lottery winnings

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A Charlotte grandmother said she wanted to scream after the North Carolina Education Lottery called her Thursday morning to tell her she won $1 million.

Wendy Johnson said North Carolina Lottery officials called her as she was shopping for flowers.

"I couldn't because I was in A.C. Moore when I got the call," Johnson said. "But now, I will. Wahoo!"

But, when lottery officials told her she won $1 million over the phone, she was still shocked and excited as she tried to keep it together.

"No way! Oh my god, you're kidding me, you're kidding me," Johnson said in the phone call. "My heart's beating so fast. I have tears streaming down my face. I'm so happy. Oh my gosh. I'm so happy I want to scream."

There were 983,012 entries for Wednesday's $300,000,000 Supreme Riches second-chance drawing.

"I never thought I'd win, but oh, I was praying," Johnson said. "When I got the phone call, I actually thought I'd won one of the smaller drawings. It never occurred to me that I'd actually win the $1 million."

Lottery officials said Johnson claimed her prize hours after at their headquarters in Raleigh. She had two options for her winnings -- a $1 million annuity that has 20 payments of $50,000 or a lump sum of $600,000.

Johnson decided to take the lump sum and after tax withholdings, she took home $424,500.

She said she plans to use the money to buy a new house and take care of her children and two grandchildren.

In addition to the $1 million prize, four people won $10,000, and 50 people won $200.

Cox Media Group