New York mom wins $34 million in mega lottery

Jet, Sept 15, 2003

Henrietta Henderson of Uniondale is all about family. The 71-year-old single mother of five recently became the sole jackpot winner of $34 million from New York's Mega Millions drawing and plans to share her winnings with her family.

"My children are my world," said Henderson. "I'm going to make sure they are well taken cave of."

Henderson, who purchased her winning ticket for $1 at Quick Pick Deli in Uniondale, accepted a check for a lump sum of $20.6 million.

The Henderson family each had a hand in picking the winning digits: 1, 4, 10, 16, 18 and Mega Ball 10. After weeks of playing, they finally beat a 1 in 135,145,920 chance of winning.

Henderson said she's not moving from her current home and vows things will stay the same.

"Things haven't really changed," her 49-year-old son, Eugene Henderson, told the Newsday. "We're still the same people."