EXHIBIT 23(a)

     INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT

     We  consent  to the  incorporation  by  reference  in (i) the  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) the 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)  the
     Registration   Statement   No.   33-43791  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, and (v) the Registration Statements No. 333-07753,  No. 333-29929,
     No. 333-45129 and No.  333-320825 on Form S-3 and the related  Prospectuses
     of  Heilig-Meyers  Company  of our  report  dated  March  25,  1998  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 28, 1998.

      /s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

     Richmond, Virginia
     May 27, 1998

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