A 66-year-old Forsyth County woman recently won $250,000 playing the state lottery.

According to the Georgia Lottery Corp., Geraldine Thornton matched the first five winning numbers in the April 2 Mega Millions drawing.

The retired retail worker told lottery officials she chose the numbers 7-10-14-40-47 and Mega Ball 34 from a set of family birthdays and anniversaries. She bought her winning ticket at the Publix on Atlanta Road.

In a news release, Thornton was quoted as saying she “choked up” after seeing the results and went back to the store to double check.

“I couldn’t believe it,” she said. “I was shocked.”

According to the lottery, Thornton plans to put her winnings toward at least one home improvement project.

“I’m going to have a new bathroom put in,” she said. “The rest we’ll just bank, I guess.”