The mistress of a drunken millionaire car dealer was awarded about $4.5 million from his estate by a Cobb County jury on Wednesday.

Anne Melican, who hooked up with Harvey Strother eight years before his death, had been seeking about $6 million that Strother gave her in three changes to his will. His estate is worth an estimated $38 million. Strother's family contended the changes were invalid because he was in an alcoholic haze and was manipulated by Melican.

The jury found in Melican's favor on two of the three changes, but sided with Strother's family and executor on the third, one that would have given Melican clear ownership of two more properties and a yacht slip on Marco Island, Fla.

"I'm grateful, but I don't have anything else to say," the 60-year-old psychologist said following the verdict.

Both sides said they will appeal portions of the verdict, and the appeals must be resolved before the will can be probated.

Strother separated from his wife, Betty, in 2000, but never divorced her and left her half of his estate. The remainder, minus the award to Melican, will go to Strother's children and grandchildren.

The seven women and five men on the jury heard seven days of testimony. Based on their verdict, Melican stands to get a monthly allowance of $7,900 retroactive to the 79-year-old Strother's congestive heart failure death on Jan. 7, 2004.

In addition, she would receive the value of a Marco Island condo Strother owned but was sold after his death. Her lawyer, Doug Salyers, said it sold for $1.36 million. She also would receive lifetime health coverage.

In the last change to his will, within weeks of his death, Strother added a clause disinheriting anyone who contested the will.

Because the jury found that last change invalid, the disinheritance clause does not apply.

Lawyers for Strother's heirs and executor tried to portray Melican as a crafty woman who used alcohol and sex to manipulate him, and craved expensive gifts —- while in Las Vegas, Strother bought her a 14.5-karat diamond ring for $140,000.

At one point, testimony focused on what former Gov. Roy Barnes, who represented the executor, called a "sex contract."

Melican, who testified over two days, said the paper was simply a list because Strother, a lawyer who never practiced, liked to write out points when they argued.

"Either of us can say no to sex, with negotiable terms for later [without over-reacting]," was one of 10 points on a paper signed by Melican and Strother.

When Strother met Melican in Florida, she testified, he told her his wife had died. She didn't learn that he was referring to his previous mistress until six months into their affair, she said.

A bourbon man most of his life, Strother's drinking got worse after the death of a Marietta woman with whom he had a 20-year affair. Some days, Strother, who owned five car dealerships in Marietta and Valdosta, was good for knocking off a bottle and a half of Early Times.

Shortly before he died, he was drinking a gallon and a half of boxed wine each day, according to testimony.