Ballin On 'Em: Woman Wins $25 Million Georgia Powerball Lottery By Accident!

(AJC) A Lithonia woman, who has been looking for work since her seasonal job ended in the spring, is the winner of the $25 million Powerball multi-state lottery jackpot from Sept. 14.

Ironically, Kathy Scruggs, 44, didn't even mean to buy the ticket.

“I asked for a Mega Millions ticket, and the lady gave me a Powerball ticket” by mistake, she explained. “I just took it anyway.”

Scruggs matched all of the winning numbers in the Sept. 14 Powerball drawing. Those numbers were: 16-41-42-50-59 and the Powerball was 5.  She claimed her prize Monday at Georgia Lottery headquarters in Atlanta.

Scruggs discovered her good fortune the night after the drawing and woke up the entire house.

“We were screaming and hollering, and everybody came running,” she said. “I could not believe it.”

After working a seasonal job during prom time, Scruggs had been trying to find employment.

“I’ve been looking and looking and looking,” she said.

Now she plans to buy a car, travel and help her family and others.

“I’m going to build my mom and grandmother a home,” she said. “That’s my first focus.”

She also wants to start foundations to help the homeless and to provide dental assistance to those in need.  “I’m happy and grateful,” she said. “I really am.”

The Quik Pik jackpot ticket was purchased at Shell Food Mart, 4144 Memorial Drive, Decatur.