Bathroom break leads to $2M Powerball prize for Lumberton man

“The flooding damaged the floors and insulation,” Anthony Felder said. “We’ll finish those repairs and fix up some other parts of the house. We’ll finally be able to do those little things we’ve dreamed of.”

The former truck driver’s good luck happened Saturday when he stopped at Atkinson's Cigarette Land on West 5th Street in Lumberton.

“I was on my way home from the barber and needed to use the restroom,” Felder said. “I stopped at the first store I could find. While I was there, I figured I’d get a Powerball ticket.”

Felder put the $3 Power Play ticket in his book bag and didn’t think about it until early Tuesday morning.

“I heard that someone from Lumberton had a winning Powerball ticket,” Felder said. “I just had a feeling it was mine.”

He looked at the ticket and saw that it matched all five white balls drawn.

“I couldn’t believe it,” Felder said. “I thought, ‘Wow! Is this for real? Am I dreaming?’”

Many people in Lumberton now hope that Felder's luck rubs off on them.

While the store doesn't get any money because his win was not a grand prize lottery win, those who work at Atkinson's Cigarette Land are happy for him.

"It's absolutely great," said Nick Shas, the store manager. "Most of the people would say, ‘Hey, I'm moving out of here, going somewhere else, buying a new house.' At least he's spending money back in the community."

Lumberton resident Tina Kefner agrees.

"I think it's excellent because, to help rebuild their home that was destroyed in the community, I mean, they need all the help they can get. I mean, it was devastated," she said.

Felder claimed his prize Tuesday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh. After required state and federal tax withholdings, he took home $1,410,020.

In addition to home repairs, Felder plans to get a new black F-150 truck.

The next Powerball drawing is Wednesday night. The jackpot has reached $127 million, worth $78.4 million cash.