Ex. 32-a
                                CERTIFICATION BY
                             CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                     TRUSTMARK CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
                         PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. ss. 1350


Pursuant to 18 U.S.C.  Section 1350 and in connection with the quarterly  report
on Form 10-Q of Trustmark  Corporation  for the period ended March 31, 2004,  as
filed with the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  on the date  hereof  (the
"Report"),  the  undersigned,  Richard G.  Hickson,  the  Chairman of the Board,
President  and Chief  Executive  Officer,  hereby  certifies  the  Report  fully
complies with the  requirements  of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Act
of 1934 and the  information  contained in the Report  fairly  presents,  in all
material  respects,  the  financial  condition  and  results  of  operations  of
Trustmark Corporation.


BY:   /s/ Richard G. Hickson
      ----------------------
      Richard G. Hickson
      Chairman of the Board, President
      & Chief Executive Officer

DATE: May 7, 2004