PROUD WINNER Olga Marshall (centre) with acting director of the National Sports Council Mona Alleyne (second left) and her family.

by YVETTE BEST

TEAM LEADER at the National Assistance Board one day, millionaire the next.

That is the fairytale story of Barbados' latest lottery winner Olga Marshall, 59, of Tudor Bridge, St Michael, who picked up her $2 100 000 cheque yesterday.

She learnt of her fortune on Monday, when she checked the number at the Texaco Station, My Lord's Hill, St Michael.

Big pay-outs

The winning ticket was purchased right there at My Lord's Hill, which has sold a number of big pay-out tickets. Cashier of nine years Joan Lowe seems to have golden fingers as well. It was Lowe who sold the ticket for a $850 000 win last year as well.

Though Marshall has won over $30 000 in the lottery in four previous pay-outs, she could do nothing else but "fall apart" when she discovered she had won the big jackpot.

"I generally buy my numbers, but a mind told me to buy quick picks, and buy from every gas station," the still overwhelmed Marshall told the DAILY NATION yesterday.

Though she plays the lottery "every day, every draw", she wasn't sure if she would buy tickets for upcoming draws because she "didn't want to be greedy".

For someone who had grand plans of making her family happy and "a lotta things" in the event of such a windfall, reality has left her stumped.

"Right now I still shaken, I don't know. I can't make any plans yet. I have to get myself back together," Marshall admitted. The only thing she is sure of at the moment is that she will be going to work as normal.

The first person she called was her daughter Deborah Pilgrim, who spread the word to the others in the family.

Deborah said she accepted the news calmly, but her sisters Donna, Annette and Cafnelle did not show such restraint.

Headed home

Donna was in town when she got the call from Deborah. She said she screamed, dropped everything and headed home.

A telephone conversation was abandoned after Annette heard the news and she went completely weak-kneed.

Cafnelle's cleaning was interrupted after Deborah nominated her to "go for mummy at the gas station because she can't drive".

As if still in disbelief, the sisters and nine of the ten grandchildren accompanied Marshall to collect the biggest pay cheque of her life.

All four sisters shared their mother's joy. They felt it was the break she deserved, and just reward for playing so consistently, adding she was in a lot of debt and they were confident she would use the money wisely.

Going to the Lotto office was the tangible proof Annette sought.

"I had to come here to see the cheque, see her receive it," she said.

The sisters are planning a family celebration to toast Marshall, which will include the grandchildren. Some of them were not old enough to appreciate the significance of the event, but some of the older ones are hoping to cash in on a "li'l something" when granny is ready to share.