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, No. 333-320825 and No. 333-64447 on Form S-3 and the related
     Prospectuses of  Heilig-Meyers  Company of our report dated March 24, 1999,
     except  for  note  17,  as to  which  the  date  is June  1,  1999,  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, 1999.


      /s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

     Richmond, Virginia
     June 1, 1999


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