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,  as adopted  pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley  Act of 2002, and in connection with the quarterly report on Form
10-Q of Trustmark  Corporation for the period ended September 30, 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:    November 9, 2004