Persistence pays off.

Last month Gwendolyn Monroe of Alexandria asked her nephew to buy a Powerball ticket for her in the Bloom at 7760 Gunston Plaza. She played her usual numbers, but this time they paid off—and paid off big. When her ticket matched the first five numbers of those drawn on October 23, she won Powerball's second prize of $200,000.

"I was really surprised, I tell you," she remarked to Lottery officials as she claimed her prize.

Gwendolyn said she plans to use the money to pay her bills and help her church.