NASHVILLE—Although four family birthdays in one month can occasionally present a shopping challenge, the dates proved to be a lucky charm for Knoxville’s Kathy Jones, who used the numbers to win $800,000 playing Powerball.

“I always play my family’s birthdays,” said Kathy, who claimed her winnings Monday at the Tennessee Lottery’s Nashville headquarters. Kathy, who owns Brickstone, a masonry company in Knoxville, plays the number nine for September, then the dates of the birthdays in that month of her mother, father, niece and daughter-in-law.

“And, I always play the Power Play,” she said. Power Play is the multiplier feature of Powerball, which allows a player to multiply any non-jackpot win up to five times. For example, since Kathy’s numbers matched all five of the five white ball numbers drawn Saturday night, the prize was $200,000. Since she added Power Play for an extra dollar, and the multiplier was four for that drawing, the prize grew to $800,000.

“She was so excited she jumped off our deck,” said Don, Kathy’s husband. “Then she starting yelling, ‘Happy Birthday to me!’” Turns out, last week was Kathy’s birthday!

The Joneses said they will take some time to decide what they will do with their winnings. Meanwhile, birthdays will remain an important part of Kathy’s life. “Now I’m looking to win with my May birthdays!”