Shellman Bluff resident Phylis Brown was the winner of the Coastal Courier’s 2018 Best of Liberty gift card giveaway.

Brown is a native of Bryan County, but has lived in Liberty County for many years. She taught for the Liberty County School System in the late 1980s. She said this was the first time she’s ever won a prize in her life.

“When I got the email I thought it was spam,” she said. “I never win anything, not even a lottery scratch off game.”

Brown was randomly selected after she cast her votes in the 2018 Best of Liberty contest. Voting took place July 12 through Aug. 12.

Brown said she was excited about the $100 gift card.

“It was worth leaving the house for,” she said.

Nearly 143,000 votes were cast for nominees in a variety of Best of Liberty categories. The winners will be announced in the Best of Liberty, Liberty Life Magazine fall issue which publishes Sept. 29.