Powerball winner Marie Holme's $188 million rollercoaster ride with drugs and church
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In happier times, Marie Holmes (center) collecting her Powerball check at the North Carolina Lottery headquarters in February 2015.
Just months after Marie Holmes won the largest Powerball jackpot in NC's history, she was arrested on drugs charges.
But now she has followed through on her promise to donate 10% to her local church, starting with nearly $700,000 in November.
Marie Holmes (inset) has donated $680,000 to the Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church in Shallotte.
“The first thing she promised was to tithe – or give a tenth of her winnings to charity,” a press release from Ruth Sheehan with the Francis Law Firm said.
But, in late July, Holmes was arrested at her home in Brunswick County on drug charges. Also earlier this year, Holmes also spent a large sum on a $3 million bond for her jailed fiance, who was arrested before her lottery win.
Before winning the jackpot, Holmes worked several minimum wage jobs to provide for her family.
Meanwhile, the fiance, Lamarr Andre McDow, age 31, — also known as “Hot Sauce” — was arrested in October for the third time in 11 months.
Still, on Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, Holmes sent a personal check for $680,000 to her home church, Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church in Shallotte, Sheehan said.
The gift will pay for long-overdue repairs and renovations to the church and its equipment.
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