When a Mayfield, Ky woman’s grandson, Mark Powell, handed her a Powerball ticket, he gave it a kiss and made a bold prediction: “It might not be big, but we’re gonna win something.”
“I always give him the money and he buys the tickets,” Barbara Hall said.
Hall later claimed the ticket purchased at Pocket’s #1 in Mayfield, and her grandson’s prediction proved right in a big way. One of the three plays matched four white balls and the Powerball to win a $50,000 prize in the October 3rd Powerball drawing.
Hall, whom her grandson calls “Mom”, did not learn about the prize by casually checking the numbers. Instead, word of the win traveled through the retailer to close family after recognizing Hall’s grandson on security footage buying the ticket.
Hall’s aunt called Powell while he was high above the ground in a bucket truck cutting a tree down and asked the question no one wants to hear while operating a chainsaw: “Are you sitting down?”
Powell was not, so she wisely waited until he was safely back on the ground before sharing the news. Even then, he was skeptical. “There’s no way we have won this,” he recalled saying.
“I lost it,” Powell said. “I plum almost passed out.”
The winning play also held a personal connection for Hall’s grandson: number 14 was one of the numbers Powell wore while playing soccer and football in school.
Hall received a check for $36,250 after taxes.
For Hall, the prize arrived at just the right time. She said the money will help the family catch up on bills and replace her older car, which had become unreliable after repeated repairs.
“It’s absolutely good for us,” Hall said, describing the win as a blessing for her family.
Now, after her grandson’s lucky prediction, a kiss for good measure and one unforgettable phone call, Hall has $50,000 worth of reasons to celebrate.
Pockets will receive $500 for selling the winning ticket.