EXHIBIT 23(a)

     INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT

     We consent to the incorporation by reference in (i) Registration Statements
     No.  2-96961  and No.  33-28095  on  Form  S-8 and  related  Prospectus  of
     Heilig-Meyers  Company  relating to Common Stock issued and issuable  under
     the 1983 Stock Option Plan of the Company, (ii) Registration Statements No.
     33-35263,   No.   33-50086  and  No.  33-64616  on  Form  S-8  and  related
     Prospectuses of  Heilig-Meyers  Company relating to Common Stock issued and
     issuable   under  the  1990  Stock  Option  Plan  of  the  Company,   (iii)
     Registration Statements No. 33-43791 and No. 333-82101 on Form S-8 relating
     to the  Heilig-Meyers  Company  Employee  Stock  Purchase  Plan and related
     Prospectus of the Company,  (iv)  Registration  Statements No. 33-54261 and
     No. 333-29105 on Form S-8 and related Prospectuses of Heilig-Meyers Company
     relating to Common Stock  issued and  issuable  under the 1994 Stock Option
     Plan of the Company,  (v) Registration  Statement No. 333-81743 on Form S-8
     relating  to Common  Stock  issued  and  issuable  under the  Heilig-Meyers
     Company Director Stock Ownership Plan, and (vi) Registration Statements No.
     333-07753  and No.  333-29929 on Form S-3 and the related  Prospectuses  of
     Heilig-Meyers  Company,  of our report dated March 22, 2000 (April 20, 2000
     as to the  sale of the  Berrios  division  described  in Note  18),  on the
     consolidated financial statements and schedule of Heilig-Meyers Company and
     subsidiaries,  as listed under Items 14(a) (1) and (2),  both  appearing in
     the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Heilig-Meyers  Company for the year ended
     February 29, 2000.


     /s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

     Richmond, Virginia
     May 30, 2000


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