Mindy Crandall, a 34-year-old mother of two, made a decision that cost her $590 million when she allowed 84-year-old Powerball winner Gloria Mackenzie cut in line when she bought her lucky ticket.
However, Mrs. Crandall isn’t beating herself up too bad about it, telling ABC News on Thursday that her act of kindness taught her young daughter an important lesson about courtesy.
Ms. Mackenzie came forward on Wednesday to claim the jackpot, thanking the anonymous woman who let her cut in line at that Publix grocery store in Zephyhills, Florida, before the May 18 drawing, The Daily Mail reports.
“It could have been us, but things happen,” Mrs. Crandall told ABC News. “Sometimes it’s better to be patient than right. I knew we were teaching our daughter the right thing.”
The mother told ABC News that she was tending to her two daughters when Ms. Mackenzie cut in front of them on that fateful day.
“My 10-year-old said, ’Mom, There’s a lady in front of us.’ I noticed that the lady was there. Didn’t pay a lot of mind to it,” she said.
SEE ALSO: Winner of $590 million Powerball jackpot is 84-year-old Florida woman
When the elderly woman made it to the register, the cashier motioned for Mrs. Crandall to come forward instead.
“Go ahead,” Mrs. Crandall said to Ms. Mackenzie, who went on to buy the winning Quick Pick ticket.
“The joke was, that’s the lady that’s going to win it. I was like, ’Yeah right. No one is going to win from little Zephyrhills,’” Mrs Crandall said.
Mrs Mackenzie, a widow and with four children and at least four grandchildren, has not disclosed her plans for the money. She opted for the lump sum cash payout of $370.8 million, before taxes, instead of 30 annual payments of $19 million, a lottery official said.
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
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