A woman from Leon County has many reasons to celebrate.

The Florida Lottery announced Thursday Melanie Strickland, age 60? of Tallahassee, claimed a $1 million prize from?the Gold Rush Limited Scratch-Off game?at Lottery Headquarters in Tallahassee.

The Florida Lottery said Strickland chose to receive her winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $795,000.

?“I think I still can’t believe it,” Strickland said in a news release from the Florida Lottery. “I just wish my mom was here to see this.”

According to the lottery, Strickland recalled her mom collecting any spare pennies she found and placing them in a jar.

Strickland’s morning at the Parkside Food and Gas was a routine pit stop, and after discovering her big win, Strickland went back to tell her friends.

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