THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, August 20, 1994 TAG: 9408200278
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: BOWLING GREEN LENGTH: Short : 45 lines
Faye Bryant won $10.3 million in the Virginia Lottery last year. Now, she's poring through the want ads.
For the past 10 years, Bryant worked as a secretary in the guidance department at Walker Grant Middle School in Fredericksburg. But that position, like a dozen other city school jobs, fell victim to budget cuts, personnel director Rick Hall said.
Hall said Bryant's sudden wealth was not the reason she was let go, but Bryant wonders if school officials figured she just didn't need the money.
``It was a total shock,'' she said. ``It was really difficult, very emotional for me. I hadn't planned on leaving.''
Bryant and her husband, Eddie, who have three children, split a Dec. 18 Lotto jackpot of $20.6 million with a Patrick County family. After taxes, the winners each receive $350,000 annually for 20 years.
Faye Bryant said people had speculated about how long she and her husband would continue at their jobs. Eddie Bryant has left his job at Rappahannock Electric Cooperative, but his wife isn't ready to stay home.
``I'll go crazy,'' she said.
So Faye Bryant has turned her attention to finding a job. She would like to work in a public school system, because her hours and vacations would mirror those of her youngest daughter.
``When September rolls around and my old friends go back to work, I'll be depressed,'' she said. ``I guess I could volunteer somewhere, just to be around real people.''
Since winning, the Bryants have changed little. In fact, they kept their newfound fortune a secret from the rest of the family until after the New Year so they could have a normal Christmas.
They still live in the same modest house near Bowling Green, and don't want to make too many changes as long as their youngest child is still in high school and living with them.
KEYWORDS: VIRGINIA LOTTERY by CNB