'It still feels like I'm dreaming': Gaston Co. gospel singer wins $1M Powerball prize

GASTON COUNTY, N.C. — A Gaston County gospel singer said he's going to buy a new guitar after winning Saturday's $1 million Powerball prize.

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Lloyd Dockery said the large jackpot almost made him buy two Quick Pick tickets, but the one ticket he bought at the Lowell Mini Mart on McAdenville Road turned out to be more than enough.

“When I saw how much the jackpot was I almost bought two tickets,” said Dockery. “But then I figured, if I’m going to win, I only need one.”

The southern gospel singer said he didn't know he had the winning ticket until he read someone had won in Monday morning's paper.

“When I saw that I got three of the numbers I thought, ‘Well, I hope I get the other two,’” Dockery said. “When I saw that I matched all five I shouted, ‘I’m a millionaire.’”

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Dockery said he he checked the numbers several times before he realized his dream had come true.

“I had to make sure it was real,” he said. “It still feels like I’m dreaming.”

Officials said after taxes, Dockery took home $707,501.

The singer, who said he performs Johnny Cash at local retirement homes, said he's plans to give some of the money to his church, pay off his house and buy a new guitar.

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“I need to make sure I have a good guitar if I’m going to keep singing,” he said.

Lottery officials said the ticket beat odds of one in 11.7 million and that he was one of only seven in the country to win $1 million in the drawing.

The jackpot for Wednesday’s Powerball drawing is $750 million or $465.5 million in cash.

For details on how $13.8 million in lottery funds made a difference in Gaston County last year, click here.

Cox Media Group