THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, February 15, 1995 TAG: 9502150450
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LINDA McNATT, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SMITHFIELD LENGTH: Medium: 51 lines
After playing one set of numbers twice a week for more than five years, a local couple claimed $4.8 million in lottery winnings Monday.
Gerald and Betty Sykes played a combination of his and her birthdays. His: Aug. 16, 1940. Hers: Jan. 20, 1944. And the winner was: 1-08-16-20-40-44.
They stuck with those numbers just as they have stuck with each other for 31 years, Gerald Sykes said, smiling at his wife at the Smithfield Quick Stop. The couple bought their winning ticket at the convenience store on West Main Street and met the press there after claiming the prize.
``If it hadn't been for her birthday - her three numbers - I wouldn't have won,'' he said. ``She's stuck with me all these years. She deserves a lot of credit.''
For Betty Sykes, the winning lottery ticket was the beginning of a streak of good luck. After she found out Sunday that she and her husband were winners, she celebrated by going to play Bingo.
And Bingo! She won another $1,000.
Gerald Sykes is a disabled veteran of the Vietnam War. Betty Sykes is a homemaker. They have three grown children, ages 24, 25 and 28.
Even though neither of them got any sleep Sunday night after finding themselves millionaires, they were on the road early Monday to claim their prize.
They left Smithfield about 8:45 a.m. and drove to lottery headquarters in Newport News, Gerald Sykes said. When they found out there that they would either have to drive to Richmond or postpone collecting their prize until Tuesday, they drove to Richmond.
The couple received their first check of $162,575 after taxes. They also got Virginia Lottery jackets and baseball caps, which they wore for the interviews. They will receive 19 additional payments of $163,880.
Betty Sykes is a Smithfield native. Her husband was born in Pennsylvania but grew up in Smithfield. They live in the downtown area in her family home, which they plan to remodel now that they can afford to have the work done.
Otherwise, they said Monday, they will pay bills and maybe buy a little something for the kids.
Betty Sykes said she wants to keep her 1987 Oldsmobile, but Gerald Sykes said he'd like to have a pickup truck.
``Not a new one now, mind you,'' he said. ``I wouldn't want something I'd have to worry about messing up if I wanted to haul something.''
KEYWORDS: LOTTERY WINNERS by CNB