It was a dream and a blessing come true that was granted to Marie Holmes, 27, a single Black mom in Shallotte, North Carolina, this past week. Holmes was one of three people to share in the estimated $500 million Powerball jackpot on Wednesday, Feb. 11. The single mother was working at McDonald’s and Walmart while struggling to take care of her four children, one of whom has cerebral palsy. According to Holmes, she had to recently stopped working to take care of her children full time.
Holmes stated that she rarely plays the lottery but purchased an occasional ticket when she had the extra cash. Holmes told the media that she intends to use the windfall to take care of her children. “Everything is for them. All the struggles that I went through, it was all for them. I just want them to understand that money doesn’t change you. It can help you. They don’t have to worry about that. They can go to college, on me. And they don’t have to worry about nothing. I’m glad I can do that for them,” she said.
Holmes was in the process of looking for a new job when she found out she had won the Powerball jackpot and now will start a college fund for her children and plans to look for a new home. In addition, Holmes also plans to share her winnings with her church. “First I’m going to pay my tithes because I wouldn’t have any of it if it wasn’t for God. I’m ready to embrace the change. I’m very grateful for what’s about to happen for my family,” she said.
