Zephyrhills woman, 84, $590M Powerball winner

ZEPHYRHILLS, Fla. — The winner of the biggest jackpot in Powerball history has come forward.

Gloria Mackenzie's name was revealed today at Florida Lottery headquarters in Tallahassee.

The 84-year-old woman bought the ticket worth $590 at a Publix in Zephyrhills on May 18.

Mackenzie, of Zephyrhills, will take the lump sum payout of nearly $371 million, lottery officials said.

The day the winning Powerball ticket was purchased at the Zephyrhills Publix, there may have been a $590 million act of kindness.

Florida Lottery officials said a good Samaritan let the eventual winner cut in line at the Lotto counter. That friendly neighbor may have been Mindy Crandell.

"And it was our turn, and the lady turned and looked at me, and I said, 'Go ahead. You can get your ticket. No big deal,'" said Crandell.

But it was a big deal. Mackenzie collected the lump sum cash option of $371 million.

Mackenzie's name didn't ring a bell for Crandell, but a photo of the winner did.

"Then I got a picture texted from a friend that said, 'Is this the lady?' My daughter said, 'Mom look, it's the lady that went in front of us,'" said Crandell.

Mackenzie did not appear for the big announcement in Tallahassee, but she was there to cash in the ticket to become the largest single jackpot winner of all time.

It could have been Mindy Crandell, but she and daughter Mallory said they are fine with the way things turned out.

"I guess it was meant to be for her to be rich," said Crandell. "My parents always taught us to have manners and be polite to our elders."

"Being polite is better than being rich," said Mallory.

WFTV