For one Gaston County man, Friday the 13th just went from spooky to spectacular. David Abernathy of Mount Holly scored a $100,000 top prize on a Cash Payday scratch-off after a routine errand run in Stanley turned into a serious windfall.
Abernathy said he picked up the lucky ticket at Main Street Market on South Main Street in Stanley while out running errands. He later claimed the prize at lottery headquarters yesterday and walked away with roughly $72,018 after state and federal withholdings. He said he immediately called his wife and plans to put the money toward bills and getting his household ahead.
Winner's reaction
Talking with WCNC, Abernathy admitted he used to side-eye the infamous date. "I don’t usually like Friday the 13th but I do now," he said.
Seeing the prize on the ticket left him in disbelief. His first reaction, he told WCNC, was to laugh and say, "This isn't real." Once it sunk in, he said the money would go straight toward paying bills and helping his family get ahead rather than any flashy splurges.
Where the ticket was bought
The winning $100,000 Cash Payday ticket came from Main Street Market on South Main Street in Stanley, a small convenience stop that draws regular shoppers from across Gaston County.
The North Carolina Education Lottery lists recent winners and provides prize-claim guidance on its website for players who need details on how to cash in larger tickets like Abernathy's.
Quick context
Abernathy's roughly $72,018 take-home reflects standard state and federal tax withholdings on a $100,000 win, a solid reminder that those big numbers splashed across scratch-off tickets are before taxes.
For local winners, a six-figure payout like this is often a short-term boost rather than a lifelong cushion, typically used to clear debt, tackle repairs, or cover pressing expenses. In Abernathy's case, that lucky Friday the 13th looks set to buy something a lot more practical than superstition: a little financial breathing room.
