IUKA, Miss -- It was an uneventful day for Bree Black working her regular shift at Wiley's Discount Beverages when a local customer stopped by to purchase items. The day quickly became life changing for one lucky individual.

The customer came in for their purchase, paid, and was leaving. Instead, two lottery tickets were purchased; the last ticket on the roll, No. 30, and one ticket from the new roll, No. 1. Both were $20 Extravaganza scratch off tickets.

The buyer rarely buys lottery tickets, but felt lucky and decided to chance it.

It was $40 well spent because in a matter of seconds her life changed.

The winner, who is choosing to remain anonymous, hit it big winning half a million dollars on ticket No. 30.

Black, who sold the scratch off tickets, said it was the first big win she has ever seen. "She felt lucky that day and she sure was," Black said.

Dale and Tara Wadkins, owners, of Wiley's Discount Beverages and Third Base Liquor have never had a customer win more than $5,000 tops.

Tara was excited for the winner and talked about how much she deserved to win big and is a great customer.

"She bought a ticket from a roll, and that ticket was a barn burner," Dale said.

The Wadkins and Black were almost as excited as the winner. They all relished in seeing someone who needed and deserved the money walk away with a large payout.

Each state regulates the lottery and set the guidelines. Mississippi is one of the states that allows lottery winners to remain anonymous if they so choose.

Expect lottery ticket sales to go up over the summer in hopes of another one hitting big.

Quote: "She bought a ticket from a roll, and that ticket was a barn burner."

--Dale Wadkins,

Owner of Wiley's

Discount Tobacco