TRENTON, NJ – (May 13, 2016) – The owners of the sole jackpot winning Powerball ticket that was sold by the New Jersey Lottery for the Saturday, May 7th drawing, came to Lottery headquarters today to validate the ticket and claim their prize. The claimed the prize as a group win and are named The Smith Family Lottery Pool. They purchased the ticket with a cash option which is valued at $284 million. The group members include:
1. Pearlie Mae Smith (mom),Trenton
2. Valerie Marie Arthur, Trenton
3. Steven Elliot Smith, Trenton
4. Jacqueline Sessoms, Trenton
5. Marsha-Ann Rebecca Smith, Trenton
6. Tracy Angela Smith, Newark
7. Katherine Nicole Nunnally, Newark
8. Rene Bethina Smith, Trenton
“We are thrilled to meet the fortunate winners and I am extremely pleased that they heeded the recommendation to obtain professional assistance and advice to navigate this life-changing event,” Carole Hedinger, New Jersey Lottery Executive Director said. The family also consulted with a life coach and met with previous jackpot winners to learn from their experiences.
The Smith Family Lottery Group spokesperson, Valerie Marie Arthur said, “Divine intervention provided the winning numbers to my mother in a dream.” Arthur is a retired corrections administrator. They plan on tithing 10 percent of the winnings to God. “Friday the 13th is now a blessed day.”
Mrs. Smith purchased the ticket from the 7-Eleven store, 750 Chambers Street, Trenton in Mercer County. She is a pastor in a church in Trenton and rarely gambles. She said that these numbers popped into her head and felt compelled to listen to the intuition. She purchased one game board for the Wednesday, May 4 drawing and one board for the Saturday, May 7 drawing, which was the winning ticket.
The winning numbers for the Saturday, May 7 drawing were: 05, 25, 26, 44 and 66. The Red Powerball number was 09 and the Multiplier was 02. The Powerball jackpot reset and is currently at $50,000,000 for the next drawing to be held Saturday, May 14 at 11:00 pm.
New Jersey Lottery began selling Powerball tickets in February 2010 and has been making millionaires ever since. The Lottery has paid out more than $33 Billion in prizes to Powerball players since joining. In Fiscal Year 2016, thus far, the Lottery has paid out more than $128.6 million in prizes to nearly 5 million ticketholders.
Retailers earned commissions of $2.143 million for this 19 draw run. Powerball contributed nearly $112 million thus far this year and an estimated $17.1 million from the 19 draw roll.
“This is an amazing win for New Jersey, the lucky ticket holders and the retailers” Hedinger said. “The revenue generated from this draw and all of the New Jersey Lottery games, support vital programs and institutions that serve New Jersey residents across the state.”