ATLANTA – Depending on who you ask, lightning does strike twice and so does the lottery, according to one metro Atlanta family.

Donna Echols of Ellenwood won $1 million playing the Georgia Lottery instant game Extreme Green. Patricia Taylor of McDonough won a $5 million top prize playing the Georgia Lottery's 15th Anniversary Millionaire Extravaganza last December. The two have known each other for eight years, and Taylor is a close friend of the Echols family.

No one knew the seemingly once-in-a-lifetime event would happen again.

"This is not something that happens every day," Echols said.

She purchased her ticket at BP Food Shop, 1785 Panola Road in Ellenwood, while grabbing food for her grandson.

It wasn't until later in the evening that Echols scratched her ticket.

"I asked my husband to take a look, and he told me I'd won $1 million," she said.

Shocked and excited, Echols called Taylor to share the good news.

A Georgia Lottery winner, Taylor collected her $5 million prize Dec. 31, 2008. She purchased her lucky ticket in McDonough.

At the time, Taylor had not made plans for her winnings.

Echols, who has one adult son with her husband, Mike, plans to save for the couple's retirement.

"We're all very excited," she exclaimed.