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                                  EXHIBIT 5.1
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                                  May 10, 1994



Board of Directors
Haverty Furniture Companies, Inc.
866 West Peachtree Street, N.W.
Atlanta, Georgia 30308

                 RE:      Haverty Furniture Companies, Inc.
                          Registration Statement on Form S-8
                          500,000 Shares of $1.00 par value
                          Common Stock
                          1993 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan

Gentlemen:

                 We have acted as counsel for Haverty Furniture Companies, Inc.
(the "Company") in connection with the registration of 500,000 shares of its
$1.00 par value Common Stock (the "Shares") pursuant to a registration
statement filed on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") pursuant to the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, covering the said shares.

                 In connection therewith, we have examined the following:

                 (1)      The Articles of Incorporation of the Company, as
                          amended, certified by the Secretary of State of the
                          State of Maryland;

                 (2)      The By-Laws of the Company, as amended, certified as
                          complete and correct by the Secretary of the Company;

                 (3)      The minute book of the Company, certified as correct
                          and complete by the Secretary of the Company;

                 (4)      Certificate of Good Standing with respect to the
                          Company, issued by the Secretary of State of the
                          State of Maryland; and
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Board of Directors
Haverty Furniture Companies, Inc.
May 10, 1994
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                  (5)     The Registration Statement, including all exhibits
                          thereto, as filed with the Securities and Exchange
                          Commission.

                 Based upon such examination and upon examination of such other
instruments and records as we have deemed necessary, we are of the opinion
that:

                 (A)      The Company has been duly incorporated under the laws
                          of the State of Maryland and is validly existing and
                          in good standing under the laws of that state.

                 (B)      The Shares covered by the Registration Statement have
                          been legally authorized and when issued in accordance
                          with the terms described in said Registration
                          Statement, will be validly issued, fully paid and
                          nonassessable.

                 We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
aforementioned Registration Statement on Form S-8 and to the reference to this
firm under the caption "Legal Matters" in the Prospectus.  In giving this
consent, we do not thereby admit that we come within the category of persons
whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, or the
rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.

                                        Sincerely,

                                        SMITH, GAMBRELL & RUSSELL



                                        /s/ Helen T. Ferraro
                                        --------------------
                                        Helen T. Ferraro


HTF/dkaw