LUMBERTON — Gilford Terell Murphy grinned all day Tuesday after his name was pulled in the United Way new car giveaway drawing at Lumberton Honda.

It was the fourth time in six drawings that a BB&T employee has qualified.

Murphy enrolled in the fair share program when he started working at BB&T about eight years ago. There are 1,200 fair-share givers in Robeson County.

“It’s always good to give,” he said. “It’s always better to give than receive, I’ve always been taught.”

Through the fair share program, donors give the equivalent of an hour’s pay each month to the Robeson County United Way, which gives money to 18 local organizations. A final drawing will determine which of 16 finalists and fair-share contributors will win a new car.

United Way board members Kyle Chavis, Jan Tedder-Rogers and Wendy Walters were at Tuesday’s drawing, along with four United Way agency representatives, Pat Smartt from the American Red Cross, Audrey Hester from Southeastern Hospice, Cindy Edwards from Southeastern Family Violence Center, and Dencie Lambdin of Communities In Schools.

Murphy said he started grinning when he answered the phone at work and heard United Way Executive Director Sandra Oliver tell him that he was a finalist.

“It was a surprise,” he said. “I sent text messages. I was very excited. We had been talking about it last week. We had been watching the drawing, of course, you never think it will happen to you. ... Just keep your fingers crossed.”

Murphy didn’t want to guess on what he would do if he wins the free ride.

“I haven’t thought that far ahead yet,” he said. “I’m trying not to get too excited. We’d probably drive it.”

Each Tuesday through Jan. 19, a name will be drawn from the filigreed golden cage at one of four participating car dealerships: Jerry Johnson Chevrolet, Lumberton Honda, Lumberton Nissan, and Peterson Toyota.

The next drawing will be at Lumberton Nissan.