Like most of us, Georgians Jesse Whitley and Reginald McCoy didn’t win the $636 million Mega Millions jackpot.
But they’re not complaining about the $1 million prizes they did win. Whitley, of Bethlehem, and McCoy, of Columbus, each claimed their prizes Wednesday, according to Georgia Lottery officials.
For Whitley, 30, the extra cash couldn’t have come at a better time. Whitley’s wife is due Jan. 11 with the couple’s second child.
“We’re planning to pay off some debt and then go from there,” Whitley told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Whitley, an air conditioning repairman, said he still went to work Wednesday. Though he admittedly “didn’t do a whole lot.”
Whitley said he doesn’t play the lottery often, but was tempted by the big prize in Tuesday night’s drawing. He said he previously won $2,000 in a scratch-off game, but that doesn’t compare to the winning ticket he bought this week in Winder.
McCoy, 53, purchased his ticket at the Winn Dixie on Hunt Avenue in Columbus, according to lottery officials. He was not available for comment late Wednesday.
In addition to the two $1 million winners, other Georgians were also lucky, lottery officials said. Three $20,000 tickets were sold in Cave Spring, Decatur and Marietta. There were 26 $5,000 winners, 18 $2,000 winners, and more than 929,000 winners at other prize levels.
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