Gainesville painter wins $1 million in lottery

GAINESVILLE - A Gainesville painter is the latest millionaire in the state, according to officials with the Georgia Lottery in Atlanta.

Lottery official announced Friday that James Case, 51, won his $1 million top prize playing the new instant game $1,000,000 Grand Casino.

Case also won $250 the same day from a separate Georgia Lottery play. He claimed his $1 million prize Tuesday at Georgia Lottery headquarters in Atlanta.

Case said he plans to pay bills with his winnings, but he also said plans to pay it forward with a donation to charity.

J & S Food Mart, 2224 Thompson Bridge Road in Gainesville, sold the winning tickets where Case scratched it in the store.

"The cashier grinned," he recalled. "I joked, 'Can you cash this ticket?"

Case shared the good news with his wife Marilyn who thought he was playing a joke.

"She couldn't believe it," he said. "I was excited to win $250, but I never dreamed I'd win $1 million!"