HEILIG MEYERS CO
S-3, 1997-07-25
FURNITURE STORES
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     As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 25, 1997

                                                    Registration No. 333-_______
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                             -----------------------
                                    FORM S-3
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      Under
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                         -------------------------------

                              HEILIG-MEYERS COMPANY

             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
                                    Virginia
         (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
                                   54-0558861
                     (I.R.S. employer identification number)

                             2235 Staples Mill Road
                            Richmond, Virginia 23230
                                 (804) 359-9171
               (Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
                 including area code, of registrant's principal
                               executive offices)
                             -----------------------
                            David W. Robertson, Esq.
                     McGuire, Woods, Battle & Boothe, L.L.P.
                                One James Center
                              901 East Cary Street
                            Richmond, Virginia 23219
                                 (804) 775-1000
                     (Name, address, including zip code, and
                    telephone number, including area code, of
                               agent for service)
                             -----------------------
                                   Copies to:

                               Carter Strong, Esq.
                       Arent, Fox, Kintner, Plotkin & Kahn
                          1050 Connecticut Avenue, N.W.
                           Washington, D.C. 20036-5339
                                 (202) 857-6000

         Approximate  date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:  From
time to time after the effective date of this registration statement.

         If the only securities  being registered on this form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest  reinvestment plans, please check the following
box. [ ]

         If any of the  securities  being  registered  on  this  form  are to be
offered  on a  delayed  or  continuous  basis  pursuant  to Rule 415  under  the
Securities Act of 1933,  other than  securities  offered only in connection with
dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. [X]

         If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list  the  Securities  Act  registration  statement  number  of the  earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering. [ ]

         If this  Form is a  post-effective  amendment  filed  pursuant  to Rule
462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities
Act  registration   statement  number  of  the  earlier  effective  registration
statement for the same offering. [ ]

         If delivery of the  prospectus  is expected to be made pursuant to Rule
434, please check the following box. [ ]
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
                                              CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     Proposed            Proposed
                 Title of Each                                        Maximum             Maximum
              Class of Securities                  Amount to be    Offering Price    Aggregate Offering           Amount of
               to be Registered                     Registered      Per Share(1)         Price (2)             Registration Fee
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock of Heilig-Meyers Company (par
value $2 per share) (1)                            2,534,389         $16.84375          $42,688,615                $12,936
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

         (1) Each share of Common Stock being  registered  hereunder  includes a
preferred share purchase right.

         (2)  Calculated  pursuant to Rule 457(c)  under the  Securities  Act of
1933, based on the average high/low price of Heilig-Meyers  Company Common Stock
on July 23, 1997.

                           --------------------------

         THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS  REGISTRATION  STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE
OR DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS  EFFECTIVE  DATE UNTIL THE  REGISTRANT
SHALL FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY  STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL  THEREAFTER  BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(A) OF
THE SECURITIES  ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THIS  REGISTRATION  STATEMENT  SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION,  ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(A),
MAY DETERMINE.




<PAGE>



         Information  contained herein is subject to completion or amendment.  A
registration  statement  relating  to these  securities  has been filed with the
Securities  and Exchange  Commission.  These  securities may not be sold nor may
offers to buy be accepted prior to the time the registration  statement  becomes
effective.  This  prospectus  shall  not  constitute  an  offer  to  sell or the
solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these  securities
in any State in which such offer,  solicitation  or sale would be unlawful prior
to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state.

                   SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED July __, 1997

                                2,534,389 shares

                              HEILIG-MEYERS COMPANY

                                  COMMON STOCK

         This  Prospectus  relates to 2,534,389  shares (the "Shares") of common
stock, $2 par value per share (the "Common Stock") of Heilig-Meyers Company (the
"Company"),  which may be offered from time to time by the selling  stockholders
named herein (the "Selling Stockholders"). The Common Stock is listed on the New
York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") and the Pacific Exchange, Inc. (the "PE") under
the trading  symbol  "HMY." On July 24, 1997 the last reported sale price of the
Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange was $15 15/16 per share.


         The Selling  Stockholders  have advised the Company that the Shares may
be sold from  time to time in  transactions  on the NYSE or PE or in  negotiated
transactions,  in each case at prices satisfactory to the Selling  Stockholders.
(See "Plan of Distribution.")


          THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE
           SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES
            COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
               OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
                  ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY
                        REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS
                               A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.


                  The date of this Prospectus is        , 1997.



<PAGE>



                              AVAILABLE INFORMATION

         The  Company  is  subject  to  the  informational  requirements  of the
Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  as  amended  (the  "Exchange  Act"),  and in
accordance therewith files reports,  proxy statements and other information with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission").  Such reports,  proxy
statements  and other  information  can be  inspected  and  copied at the public
reference  facilities  maintained by the  Commission at 450 Fifth Street,  N.W.,
Room 1024,  Washington,  D.C. 20549; and at the Commission's regional offices at
500 West Madison Street, Chicago, Illinois 60606; and 7 World Trade Center, 13th
Floor, New York, New York 10048. Copies of such material can be obtained by mail
from the Public Reference  Section of the Commission at 450 Fifth Street,  N.W.,
Washington,  D.C.  20549, at prescribed  rates.  The Commission also maintains a
World  Wide  Web  site  at  http://www.sec.gov  containing  reports,  proxy  and
information statements and other information regarding registrants,  such as the
Company,  that file  electronically  with the Commission.  The Company's  common
stock is listed on the New York and Pacific  Exchanges,  and such  material  may
also be  inspected  at the  offices  of the New York  Stock  Exchange,  20 Broad
Street,  New York,  New York  10005 and the  Pacific  Exchange,  Inc.,  301 Pine
Street, San Francisco, California 94104.

         The Company has filed with the Commission a  Registration  Statement on
Form S-3 (herein, together with all amendments and exhibits,  referred to as the
"Registration  Statement")  under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as amended (the
"Securities Act"), of which this Prospectus  constitutes a part. This Prospectus
does not contain all of the information set forth in the Registration Statement,
certain parts of which are omitted in accordance  with the rules and regulations
of  the  Commission.   For  further  information,   reference  is  made  to  the
Registration Statement.

                 INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

         The following  documents  filed with the  Commission by the Company are
hereby incorporated by reference into this Prospectus:

          (a)       the  annual  report on Form 10-K for the  fiscal  year ended
                    February 28, 1997;

          (b)       the quarterly  report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly  period
                    ended May 31, 1997;

          (c)       the  quarterly  report on Form 10-Q/A,  Amendment No. 1, for
                    the quarterly period ended May 31, 1997;

          (d)       the current report on Form 8-K/A dated February 19, 1997;

          (e)       the current report on Form 8-K dated July 17, 1997;

          (f)       the  description  of  the  Common  Stock  contained  in  the
                    Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the Commission
                    on  April  26,  1983  (File  No.  1-8484),   as  amended  by
                    amendments on Form 8, filed with the  Commission on April 9,
                    1985, February 23, 1988,  September 20, 1989, July 31, 1990,
                    August 6,  1992 and July 28,  1994,  respectively  (File No.
                    1-8484); and

          (g)       the description of the Rights to Purchase  Preferred  Stock,
                    Series A contained in the Registration Statement on Form 8-A
                    filed with the  Commission  on  February  23, 1988 (File No.
                    1-8484) as amended by an  amendment on Form 8 filed with the
                    Commission on September 20, 1989 (File No. 1-8484).

         All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14
or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this Prospectus and prior
to the  termination  of the  offering  of  the  Shares  shall  be  deemed  to be
incorporated  by reference into this Prospectus and to be a part hereof from the
respective dates of filing of such documents.  Any statement contained herein or
in a  document  all or any  portion  of which is  incorporated  or  deemed to be
incorporated  by reference  herein shall be deemed to be modified or  superseded
for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a statement  contained herein
or in any other  subsequently  filed  document  which also is or is deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such earlier  statement.
Any  statement  so  modified  or  superseded  shall not be deemed,  except as so
modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Prospectus.


                                       -2-

<PAGE>



         The  Company  will  provide  without  charge to any person to whom this
Prospectus is delivered, upon the written or oral request of such person, a copy
of any or all of the foregoing documents incorporated herein by reference (other
than certain  exhibits to such  documents).  Requests for such copies  should be
directed to HeiligMeyers  Company,  2235 Staples Mill Road,  Richmond,  Virginia
23230; Attention: Paige H. Wilson, Secretary, telephone (804) 359-9171.

                                       -3-

<PAGE>



                              HEILIG-MEYERS COMPANY

                                    BUSINESS


General

         The Company is the nation's largest publicly held specialty retailer of
home  furnishings  with  1,163  stores  (as  of  July  1,  1997)  in 38  states,
Washington,  D.C. and Puerto Rico. The Company  currently  operates stores under
five  names  and  formats.  The  "Heilig-Meyers"  name is  associated  with  the
Company's  historical  format with a majority of the stores operating in smaller
markets with a broad line of merchandise. The Company's Heilig-Meyers stores are
primarily   located  in  small  towns  and  rural  markets  in  the   Southeast,
Southcentral,  Midwest,  West, Northwest and Southwest of the continental United
States.  All of the  Company's  Puerto Rico stores  operate  under the "Berrios"
name.  The Berrios  format is similar to the format used by the stores  operated
under the  "Heilig-Meyers"  name.  The  "Rhodes"  name is used for the 99 stores
operated by Rhodes,  Inc.,  which was  acquired  by the Company on December  31,
1996. The Rhodes format  retailing  strategy is selling  quality  furniture to a
broad base of middle income  customers.  The Rhodes stores are primarily located
in the midsized  markets and metropolitan  areas of 14 southern,  midwestern and
western  states.  "The  RoomStore"  name and format is utilized for 18 stores in
Texas,  10 of which were acquired in February 1997 and 8 of which were converted
from former Rhodes  stores.  Stores using The RoomStore  format display and sell
furniture  in  complete  room  packages,  which  are  arranged  by  professional
designers  and  sell  at  a  value  if  purchased  as  a  group.  The  "Mattress
Discounters"  name is used for 169 retail bedding stores  acquired in July 1997.
The Mattress  Discounters stores are located in ten states and Washington,  D.C.
As  a  result  of  the  acquisition  of  Rhodes,   The  RoomStore  and  Mattress
Discounters,  the Company  now has the  ability to expand by matching  operating
formats to markets with  appropriate  demographic and competitive  factors.  The
Company expects to expand these formats as appropriate markets are identified.

          The  Company's  operating  strategy  includes:  (1)  offering  a broad
selection of  competitively  priced home  furnishings  including  furniture  and
bedding and in the  Heilig-Meyers  and  Berrios  stores,  consumer  electronics,
appliances,  and other  items such as jewelry,  small  appliances  and  seasonal
goods;  (2)  locating  Heilig-Meyers  stores  primarily in small towns and rural
markets  which are at least 25 miles  from a  metropolitan  area;  (3)  offering
credit programs to provide  flexible  financing to its customers;  (4) utilizing
centralized  inventory and distribution  systems in strategic regional locations
to  support  store  inventory  and  merchandise  delivery  operations;  and  (5)
emphasizing customer service, including free delivery on most major purchases in
the Heilig-Meyers  stores and repair service for consumer  electronics and other
mechanical items.

         The Company  believes  this  strategy of  offering  selection,  credit,
delivery  and  service  generally  allows its  Heilig-Meyers  stores to have the
largest market share among home furnishings  retailers in most of its small-town
markets.

         The Company's  executive offices are located at 2235 Staples Mill Road,
Richmond, Virginia 23230. The telephone number is (804) 359-9171.

Store Operations

General

         The Company  believes that locating its  Heilig-Meyers  stores in small
towns and rural markets provides an important competitive advantage.  Currently,
approximately  80% of  all  Heilig-Meyers  stores  are  located  in  towns  with
populations  under  50,000  and more than 25 miles from a  metropolitan  market.
Competition  in  these  small  towns  largely  comes  from  locally-owned  store
operations which generally lack the financial strength to

                                       -4-

<PAGE>



compete   effectively   with  the  Company.   The  Company   believes  that  its
Heilig-Meyers  stores  have the  largest  market  share  among home  furnishings
retailers in the majority of their areas.

         The Company's  Heilig-Meyers stores generally range in size from 10,000
to 35,000 square feet, with the average being approximately  20,000 square feet.
A store's  attached or nearby  warehouse  usually  measures  from 3,000 to 5,000
square feet. A typical store is designed to give the customer an urban  shopping
experience in a rural location. The Company's existing store remodeling program,
under which stores are remodeled on a rotational  basis,  provides the Company's
older stores with a fresh look and up-to-date  displays on a periodic basis. The
existing  Rhodes,  The  RoomStore  and  Mattress   Discounters  formats  average
approximately 34,000, 25,000 and 4,000 square feet, respectively.

Distribution

         The Company currently operates eight Heilig-Meyers distribution centers
in the  continental  U.S.  and one  center  in  Puerto  Rico,  each of which has
cantilever racking and computer-controlled  random-access inventory storage. The
Company also operates eleven Rhodes  distribution  centers,  which  collectively
have more than 1.1 million  square feet and include home delivery  operations in
certain markets.  The Company also operates The RoomStore's 200,000- square-foot
distribution  center.  The Company operates seven smaller  Mattress  Discounters
distribution  centers which primarily  provide central delivery for the Mattress
Discounters stores.  Management is in the process of evaluating the distribution
function in light of recent  acquisitions  in order to maximize  warehousing and
transportation efficiencies.

Credit Operations

         The Company believes that offering flexible credit is an important part
of its business strategy which provides a significant competitive advantage. The
Company  believes  its  credit  program  fosters  customer  loyalty  and  repeat
business.  Historically,  approximately 80% of the sales in Heilig-Meyers stores
have been  made  through  the  Company's  installment  credit  program.  Because
installment  credit is administered  at the store level,  terms can generally be
tailored  to meet the  customer's  ability to pay.  Approximately  70% of Rhodes
sales are made through its revolving credit program.

The following table sets forth certain data regarding the Company's  installment
credit operations:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
                                                                Fiscal Years Ended
                                         ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                           Feb. 28,    Feb. 29,       Feb. 28,     Feb. 28,      Feb. 28,
                                             1997        1996           1995         1994          1993
                                           -------     --------       --------     --------      --------
Average number of installment
accounts receivable (in thousands)(1)    1,280,173    1,220,660       972,418      799,501       652,569
Average initial term of account
 (in months)(2).........................   17.4         17.2           16.6         16.7          16.6
Provision for doubtful accounts
 as % of sales..........................   6.0%         5.7%           4.8%          4.5%         4.4%
Net charge-offs as % of sales...........   5.2          5.0            4.6           4.1          4.1
</TABLE>
- ----------------

(1)       Includes  securitized  accounts receivable which are still serviced by
          the Company.

(2)       For installment contracts originated during the indicated fiscal year,
          calculated at the date of origination.




                                       -5-

<PAGE>

Merchandising

      The  Company's  Heilig-Meyers  merchandising  strategy is to offer a broad
selection of  competitively  priced home  furnishings,  including  furniture and
accessories, consumer electronics,  appliances, bedding, and other items such as
jewelry and seasonal  goods.  The table below sets forth the percentage of sales
of these items during the last five years:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
                                                                            Fiscal Years Ended
                                        ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        Feb. 28,          Feb. 29,            Feb. 28,            Feb. 28,             Feb. 28,
                                          1997              1996                1995                1994                 1993
                                        --------          --------            --------            --------             --------
Furniture and accessories...               60%               58%                 59%                 59%                  59%
Consumer electronics........               10                12                  11                  12                   13
Appliances.....................             8                 9                   8                   8                    8
Bedding........................            12                11                  10                  10                   10
Other items....................            10                10                  12                  11                   10
</TABLE>

     The  Rhodes  and  The  RoomStore  stores  primarily  sell  mid-price  point
furniture and bedding. Historically, 89% of Rhodes' sales consisted of furniture
and accessories with bedding comprising the remaining 11%. Mattress  Discounters
stores sell bedding and related items at competitive prices.

Advertising and Promotion

     In fiscal  1997,  the  Company  distributed  over 140  million  direct mail
circulars.  This  included  monthly  circulars  sent by direct mail to over nine
million  households  on the  Company's  mailing  list and special  private  sale
circulars mailed to approximately two million of these households each month, as
well as during  special  promotional  periods.  During fiscal 1997,  the Company
continued to utilize market  segmentation  techniques  (begun in fiscal 1994) to
identify  prospective  customers  by  matching  their  demographics  to those of
existing  customers.  Management  believes  ongoing market research and improved
mailing techniques enhance the Company's ability to place circulars in the hands
of those  potential  customers  most  likely  to make a  purchase.  The  Company
believes that availability, as well as the terms of credit, are key determinants
in the  purchase  decision,  and  therefore,  promotes  credit  availability  by
disclosing monthly payment terms in its circulars.

Corporate Expansion

     The Company has grown from 374 stores at February 28, 1992, to 1,163 stores
at July 1, 1997.  Over this time  period,  the  Company  has  expanded  from its
traditional  Southeast  operating region into the Southcentral,  Midwest,  West,
Northwest  and  Southwest  continental  United States as well as Puerto Rico. In
addition,  the Company has  acquired  new  operating  formats as a result of the
Rhodes,  The RoomStore and the Mattress  Discounters  acquisitions.  The Company
currently operates stores in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas,  California,  Colorado,
the District of Columbia,  Florida,  Georgia,  Idaho,  Illinois,  Indiana, Iowa,
Kansas,  Kentucky,   Louisiana,   Maine,  Maryland,   Massachusetts,   Michigan,
Mississippi,  Missouri,  Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico,
North  Carolina,  Ohio,  Oklahoma,  Oregon,  Pennsylvania,  Rhode Island,  South
Carolina,  Tennessee, Texas, Virginia,  Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and
Puerto Rico.  Management  believes  that the Company's  size and  geographically
diverse store  locations,  as well as the diversity in store formats  created by
the  Rhodes,  The  RoomStore  and the  Mattress  Discounters  acquisitions,  are
competitive  advantages and allow for greater  stability in its operations.  The
Company plans to focus its expansion efforts on its existing  formats;  however,
it may from time to time consider  additional formats if attractive  acquisition
opportunities develop.

                                 USE OF PROCEEDS

     The  Company  will not  receive  any of the  proceeds  from the sale of the
Shares by the Selling Stockholders.

                                       -6-

<PAGE>



                              SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

     The following  table sets forth certain  information as of the date of this
Prospectus  with  respect  to  shares  of  Common  Stock  owned  by the  Selling
Stockholders  which are  covered  by this  Prospectus.  The  number of shares of
Common Stock offered  pursuant to this Prospectus for the account of the Selling
Stockholders  equals  the total  number of shares of Common  Stock  owned by the
Selling Stockholders as of the date of this Prospectus.

                             Common Stock Ownership
                              Prior to The Offering

Name of Selling Stockholder           Number(1)           Percentage
- ---------------------------           ---------           ----------

     Warren S. Teitelbaum             1,317,883             52%

     Steven M. Lytell                 1,216,506             48%

- --------------------

    (1) Includes shares placed in escrow  (137,566 shares by Mr.  Teitelbaum and
126,984  shares  by  Mr.  Lytell), which  will be released in the event Mattress
Discounters achieves certain earnings targets during the twelve months following
its  acquisition by the Company.  These shares are also held to  secure  certain
indemnification  obligations  of  Messrs.  Teitelbaum and Lytell with respect to
representations  and  warranties made by Mattress Discounters in connection with
its acquisition by the Company.

     In connection  with the  acquisition  of Mattress  Discounters,  Mr. Lytell
entered an  employment  agreement  pursuant to which he will serve as  Executive
Vice President of Mattress  Discounters  for an initial term ending February 28,
2000, with automatic annual one-year extensions thereafter,  unless either party
notifies  the other at least one year in advance that it does not wish to extend
the  term.  Mr.  Lytell's  annual  salary  is  initially $350,000, which will be
reviewed  on an  annual  basis  and may be  increased,  but not  decreased.  The
agreement  also  provides  that Mr.  Lytell will not be required to relocate his
residence in connection  with  performance of his employment  duties.  The other
terms of Mr.  Lytell's  employment  contract are the same as the Company's other
Executive Vice Presidents.

                           DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK

     The Company has authorized  250,000,000  shares of Common Stock,  par value
$2.00 per share.  As of July 1, 1997,  there  were  56,999,511  shares of Common
Stock outstanding.  The following brief description of the Common Stock does not
purport to be complete and is subject in all respects to applicable Virginia law
and to the provisions of the Company's  Restated  Articles of Incorporation  and
its By-laws, copies of which have been filed with the Commission.

     Holders of Common Stock are  entitled to such  dividends as may be declared
by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available  therefor after payment
of dividends on any outstanding Preferred Stock and are entitled to one vote for
each share of Common  Stock held by them with  respect to all matters upon which
they are entitled to vote.

     The Company's  Restated Articles of Incorporation  contain a provision that
reduces the shareholder vote required for amending the Articles of Incorporation
in certain  circumstances  from the two-thirds  vote  generally  applicable to a
simple  majority  vote.  The majority  vote will be  applicable  except when the
effect of the  amendment  is (a) to reduce  the  shareholder  vote  required  to
approve a merger, a statutory share exchange, a sale of all or substantially all
of the assets of the Company or the dissolution of the Company, or (b) to delete
all or any part of such  provision.  In  addition,  the vote  required  by other
provisions  of the  Restated  Articles of  Incorporation  is  necessary  if such
provisions require the approval of more than a majority of the votes entitled to
be cast.

                                       -7-

<PAGE>



Preferred Stock

     The Company has authorized  3,000,000  shares of Preferred Stock, par value
$10.00 per share.  As of July 1, 1997,  there were no shares of Preferred  Stock
outstanding.  The Board of Directors of the Company,  without  further action by
the shareholders, is authorized to designate and issue in series Preferred Stock
and to fix as to any series the dividend rate, redemption prices, preferences on
dissolution, the terms of any sinking fund, conversion rights, voting right, and
any other  preferences  of special rights and  qualifications.  Shares of Common
Stock would be subject to the preferences,  rights and powers of any such shares
of  Preferred  Stock  as  set  forth  in  the  Company's  Restated  Articles  of
Incorporation  and the resolutions  establishing one or more series of Preferred
Stock.  Holders of the Preferred Stock, if and when issued,  will be entitled to
vote as required under applicable Virginia law. Such law includes provisions for
the voting of the  Preferred  Stock in the case of any amendment to the Restated
Articles  of  Incorporation  affecting  the rights of  holders of the  Preferred
Stock, the payment of certain stock dividends, merger or consolidation,  sale of
all or substantially  all of the Company's assets and dissolution.  There are no
agreements or understandings for the designation of series of Preferred Stock or
the issuance of shares thereunder,  except pursuant to the Shareholders'  Rights
Plan discussed below.

Shareholders' Rights Plan

     The following summary of certain provisions of the Company's  Shareholders'
Rights Plan and the Rights  Agreement  dated as of February 17, 1988 between the
Company  and  Crestar  Bank as Rights  Agent,  as amended by  Supplements  No. 1
through No. 4 dated as of September 15, 1989 (together,  as amended, the "Rights
Agreement"), does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by
reference  to the Rights  Agreement,  including  the form of Rights  Certificate
attached  thereto,  each of which  has been  filed  with the  Commission  and is
incorporated by reference herein.

     On February  17,  1988 the Board of  Directors  of the  Company  declared a
dividend  distribution of one preferred share purchase right (a "Right") on each
outstanding  share of Common Stock pursuant to a Shareholders'  Rights Plan. The
Rights are  exercisable  only upon the attainment of, or the  commencement  of a
tender  offer to attain,  a  specified  ownership  interest  in the Company by a
person or group.  When  exercisable,  each  Right  would  entitle  its holder to
purchase  one-hundredth  of a newly  issued  share of  cumulative  Participating
Preferred  Stock,  Series A, par value $10.00 per share (the "Series A Preferred
Stock") at an exercise price of $75,  subject to adjustment.  A total of 750,000
shares of Series A  Preferred  Stock has been  reserved.  Each share of Series A
Preferred  Stock  will  entitle  the  holder to 100  votes and has an  aggregate
dividend rate of 100 times the amount paid to holders of the Common Stock.  Upon
occurrence  of certain  events,  each holder of a Right will become  entitled to
purchase shares of Common Stock having a value of twice the Right's then current
exercise price in lieu of Series A Preferred  Stock.  Each share of Common Stock
offered  pursuant to this Prospectus and an accompanying  Prospectus  Supplement
shall have one Right attached to it.

Virginia Stock Corporation Act

     The  Virginia  Stock   Corporation   Act  contains   provisions   governing
"Affiliated  Transactions." These provisions,  with several exceptions discussed
below,  require  approval of certain  material  transactions  between a Virginia
corporation  and any  beneficial  holder  of more  than 10% of any  class of its
outstanding  voting shares (an  "Interested  Shareholder")  by the holders of at
least two-thirds of the remaining voting shares. Affiliated Transactions subject
to  this  approval  requirement  include  mergers,  share  exchanges,   material
dispositions  of corporate  assets not in the ordinary  course of business,  any
dissolution  of  the  corporation  proposed  by or on  behalf  of an  Interested
Shareholder,   or  any   reclassification,   including   reverse  stock  splits,
recapitalization  or  merger  of the  corporation  with its  subsidiaries  which
increases the  percentage of voting shares owned  beneficially  by an Interested
Shareholder by more than 5%.


                                       -8-

<PAGE>



     For three years following the time that an Interested  Shareholder  becomes
an  owner  of  more  than  10% of the  outstanding  voting  shares,  a  Virginia
corporation  cannot engage in an  Affiliated  Transaction  with such  Interested
Shareholder without approval of two-thirds of the voting shares other than those
shares beneficially owned by the Interested  Shareholder,  and majority approval
of the "Disinterested  Directors." A Disinterested  Director means, with respect
to a  particular  Interested  Shareholder,  a member of the  Company's  Board of
Directors  who was (1) a member on the date on which an  Interested  Shareholder
became an  Interested  Shareholder  or (2)  recommended  for election by, or was
elected to fill a vacancy and  received the  affirmative  vote of, a majority of
the  Disinterested  Directors  then  on  the  Board.  At the  expiration  of the
three-year period,  the statute requires approval of Affiliated  Transactions by
two-thirds  of the voting  shares  other than  those  beneficially  owned by the
Interested Shareholder.

     The  principal  exceptions  to the  special  voting  requirement  apply  to
transactions proposed after the three-year period has expired and require either
that  the   transaction   be  approved  by  a  majority  of  the   corporation's
Disinterested   Directors  or  that  the  transaction   satisfy  the  fair-price
requirements of the statute.  In general,  the fair-price  requirements  provide
that in a two-step acquisition transaction,  the Interested Shareholder must pay
the  shareholders  in the second step either the same amount of cash or the same
amount and type of  consideration  paid to acquire  the  Virginia  corporation's
shares in the first step.

     None of the foregoing  limitations and special voting requirements  applies
to a transaction  with an Interested  Shareholder  whose  acquisition  of shares
making such person an Interested  Shareholder  was approved by a majority of the
Virginia corporation's Disinterested Directors.

     These  provisions  were  designed to deter  certain  takeovers  of Virginia
corporations.  In addition,  the statute provides that, by affirmative vote of a
majority  of the  voting  shares  other  than  shares  owned  by any  Interested
Shareholder,   a  corporation   can  adopt  an  amendment  to  its  articles  of
incorporation  or bylaws providing that the Affiliated  Transactions  provisions
shall not apply to the  corporation.  The  Company  has not  "opted  out" of the
Affiliated Transactions provisions.

     Virginia  law provides  that shares  acquired in a  transaction  that would
cause the  acquiring  person's  voting  strength  to meet or exceed any of three
thresholds  (20%,  33-1/3%  or 50%) have no voting  rights  unless  granted by a
majority  vote of shares  not owned by the  acquiring  person or any  officer or
employee-director  of the  Virginia  corporation.  This  provision  empowers  an
acquiring  person to require the Virginia  corporation to hold a special meeting
of shareholders to consider the matter within 50 days of its request.  The Board
of Directors of a Virginia corporation can opt out of this provision at any time
before four days after receipt of a control share acquisition notice.

Transfer Agent

     The transfer agent for the Common Stock is Wachovia Bank of North Carolina,
N.A.

                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     The Selling  Stockholders  have  advised  the  Company  that they may offer
Shares from time to time depending on market  conditions  and other factors,  in
one or more transactions on the NYSE, PE or other national securities  exchanges
on which the Shares are traded, or in negotiated transactions,  at market prices
prevailing at the time of sale, at negotiated  prices or at fixed prices.  Sales
of Shares may  involve (i) block  transactions  in which the broker or dealer so
engaged  will  attempt to sell the Shares as agent but may position and resell a
portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction,  (ii) purchases
by a  broker-dealer  as principal and resale by such  broker-dealer  for its own
account pursuant to this Prospectus,  (iii) ordinary brokerage  transactions and
transactions in which a broker solicits purchasers and (iv) privately negotiated
transactions.  To the  extent  required,  this  Prospectus  may be  amended  and
supplemented from time to time to describe a specific plan of distribution. In

                                       -9-

<PAGE>



connection  with the  distribution  of the  Shares  or  otherwise,  the  Selling
Stockholders  may  enter  into  hedging  transactions  with  broker-dealers.  In
connection with such  transactions,  broker-dealers may engage in short sales of
the Common  Stock in the course of hedging  the  position  they  assume with the
Selling  Stockholders.  The Selling  Stockholders may also sell the Common Stock
short and  redeliver the Shares to close out such short  positions.  The Selling
Stockholder may also enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers
which require  delivery to such  broker-dealer  of Shares offered hereby,  which
Shares  such   broker-dealer   may  resell   pursuant  to  this  Prospectus  (as
supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction).  The Selling  Stockholders
may  also  pledge  shares  to  a  broker-dealer   and,  upon  a  default,   such
broker-dealer may effect sales of the pledged shares pursuant to this Prospectus
(as  supplemented  or amended to reflect such  transaction).  In  addition,  any
shares  that  qualify  for sale  pursuant to Rule 144 may be sold under Rule 144
rather than pursuant to this Prospectus.

     Brokers and dealers may receive  compensation in the form of concessions or
commissions from the Selling  Stockholders  and/or purchasers of Shares for whom
they  may  act as  agent  (which  compensation  may be in  excess  of  customary
commissions).   The  Selling   Stockholders   and  any  broker  or  dealer  that
participates in the  distribution of Shares may be deemed to be underwriters and
any  commissions  received  by them  and any  profit  on the  resale  of  Shares
positioned by a broker or dealer may be deemed to be underwriting  discounts and
commissions under the Securities Act.

     The Company has advised the Selling  Stockholders  that  Regulation M under
the  Exchange  Act may apply to sales of  Shares  and to the  activities  of the
Selling Stockholders or broker-dealers in connection therewith.

     Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of July 1, 1997, by
and among the Company and the Selling  Stockholders  (the  "Registration  Rights
Agreement"),  the Company will pay registration  expenses in connection with the
registration of the Shares. The Selling Stockholders and the Company have agreed
to indemnify each other against  certain civil  liabilities,  including  certain
liabilities under the Securities Act.

                             VALIDITY OF SECURITIES

     The validity of the Shares to which this Prospectus  relates will be passed
upon for the  Company by  McGuire,  Woods,  Battle & Boothe,  L.L.P.,  Richmond,
Virginia,  which serves as general counsel to the Company.  As of July 15, 1997,
partners  and  associates  of  McGuire,  Woods,  Battle &  Boothe,  L.L.P.,  who
performed  services in  connection  with the offering  made by this  Prospectus,
owned of record and beneficially 2,574 shares of Common Stock. Robert L. Burrus,
Jr., a director of the Company, is a partner of that firm.

                                     EXPERTS

     The consolidated  financial  statements and the related financial statement
schedule  incorporated  in  this  Prospectus  by  reference  from  Heilig-Meyers
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP,
independent  auditors, as stated in their report which is incorporated herein by
reference,  and have been so  incorporated  in reliance  upon the report of such
firm given their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.


                                      -10-

<PAGE>



                                     PART II
                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14.  Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution

    SEC registration fee.......................................       $ 12,936
    Accountants' fees and expenses.............................          5,000
    Attorneys' fees and expenses...............................         10,000
    Printing and engraving expenses............................          2,000
    State qualification fees and expenses......................          1,000
    Miscellaneous..............................................          1,064
                                                                       -------
         Total.................................................        $32,000
                                                                       =======
- --------------

    All fees and expenses other than the SEC registration fee are estimated.

Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

    Article V of the Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company provides:

         1. Definitions.  For purposes of this Article the following definitions
shall apply:

         (a) "Corporation" means this Corporation only and no predecessor entity
or other legal entity;

         (b) "expenses"  include counsel fees, expert witness fees, and costs of
investigation,  litigation  and  appeal,  as well  as any  amounts  expended  in
asserting a claim for indemnification;

         (c)  "liability"  means the  obligation to pay a judgment,  settlement,
penalty,  fine, or other such obligation,  including,  without  limitation,  any
excise tax assessed with respect to an employee benefit plan;

         (d) "legal  entity" means a  corporation,  partnership,  joint venture,
trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise;

         (e)  "predecessor  entity"  means a legal entity the existence of which
ceased upon its acquisition by the Corporation in a merger or otherwise; and

         (f) "proceeding"  means any threatened,  pending,  or completed action,
suit,   proceeding  or  appeal  whether  civil,   criminal,   administrative  or
investigative and whether formal or informal.

     2. Limit On Liability.  In every  instance  permitted by the Virginia Stock
Corporation  Act, as it exists on the date hereof or may  hereafter  be amended,
the liability of a director or officer of the  Corporation to the Corporation or
its shareholders  arising out of a single  transaction,  occurrence or course of
conduct shall be eliminated.

     3.  Indemnification  of  Directors  and  Officers.  The  Corporation  shall
indemnify  any  individual  who is, was or is threatened to be made a party to a
proceeding  (including  a  proceeding  by or in the  right  of the  Corporation)
because such  individual is or was a director or officer of the  Corporation  or
because such  individual  is or was serving the  Corporation  or any other legal
entity in any  capacity  at the request of the  Corporation  while a director or
officer of the  Corporation  against all  liabilities  and  reasonable  expenses
incurred in the proceeding, except such liabilities and expenses as are incurred
because of such  individual's  willful  misconduct  or knowing  violation of the
criminal law.  Service as a director or officer of a legal entity  controlled by
the Corporation shall be deemed

                                      II-1

<PAGE>



service   at  the   request  of  the   Corporation.   The   determination   that
indemnification under this Section 3 is permissible and the evaluation as to the
reasonableness  of expenses in a specific  case shall be made,  in the case of a
director,  as  provided by law,  and in the case of an  officer,  as provided in
Section  4 of  this  Article;  provided,  however,  that  if a  majority  of the
directors of the  Corporation  has changed after the date of the alleged conduct
giving rise to a claim for  indemnification,  such  determination and evaluation
shall, at the option of the person claiming indemnification,  be made by special
legal counsel  agreed upon by the Board of Directors  and such person.  Unless a
determination  has  been  made  that  indemnification  is not  permissible,  the
Corporation  shall make advances and  reimbursements  for expenses incurred by a
director or officer in a  proceeding  upon receipt of an  undertaking  from such
director or officer to repay the same if it is ultimately  determined  that such
director or officer is not entitled to  indemnification.  Such undertaking shall
be an  unlimited,  unsecured  general  obligation of the director or officer and
shall be accepted without  reference to such director's or officer's  ability to
make repayment. The termination of a proceeding by judgment,  order, settlement,
conviction,  or upon a plea of nolo  contendere or its  equivalent  shall not of
itself create a presumption that a director or officer acted in such a manner as
to make such director or officer ineligible for indemnification. The Corporation
is  authorized  to  contract  in  advance to  indemnify  and make  advances  and
reimbursements  for  expenses  to any of its  directors  or officers to the same
extent provided in this Section.

     4. Indemnification of Others. The Corporation may, to a lesser extent or to
the same extent that it is required to provide indemnification and make advances
and  reimbursements  for  expenses to its  directors  and  officers  pursuant to
Section 3, provide  indemnification  and make  advances and  reimbursements  for
expenses to its employees and agents,  the  directors,  officers,  employees and
agents of its subsidiaries and predecessor entities,  and any person serving any
other legal  entity in any capacity at the request of the  Corporation,  and may
contract in advance to do so. The determination that indemnification  under this
Section 4 is permissible,  the  authorization  of such  indemnification  and the
evaluation as to the reasonableness of expenses in a specific case shall be made
as  authorized  from time to time by general or specific  action of the Board of
Directors, which action may be taken before or after a claim for indemnification
is made, or as otherwise  provided by law. No person's rights under Section 3 of
this Article shall be limited by the provisions of this Section 4.

     5.  Miscellaneous.  The rights of each person  entitled to  indemnification
under this Article shall inure to the benefit of such person's heirs,  executors
and administrators.  Special legal counsel selected to make determinations under
this  Article may be counsel for the  Corporation.  Indemnification  pursuant to
this Article  shall not be exclusive  of any other right of  indemnification  to
which any person may be entitled,  including indemnification pursuant to a valid
contract,  indemnification  by legal  entities  other than the  Corporation  and
indemnification  under  policies of insurance  purchased  and  maintained by the
Corporation or others.  However,  no person shall be entitled to indemnification
by the  Corporation  to the  extent  such  person  is  indemnified  by  another,
including an insurer.  The  Corporation  is  authorized to purchase and maintain
insurance against any liability it may have under this Article or to protect any
of the persons named above  against any liability  arising from their service to
the  Corporation  or any other legal  entity at the  request of the  Corporation
regardless of the Corporation's  power to indemnify against such liability.  The
provisions of this Article shall not be deemed to preclude the Corporation  from
entering into contracts otherwise permitted by law with any individuals or legal
entities,  including  those named above. If any provision of this Article or its
application  to any  person  or  circumstance  is held  invalid  by a  court  of
competent  jurisdiction,  the  invalidity  shall not affect other  provisions or
applications of this Article, and to this end the provisions of this Article are
severable.

     6.  Application;  Amendments.  The  provisions  of this  Article  shall  be
applicable from and after its adoption even though some or all of the underlying
conduct  or  events  relating  to a  proceeding  may have  occurred  before  its
adoption.  No amendment,  modification  or repeal of this Article shall diminish
the right  provided  hereunder  to any  person  arising  from  conduct or events
occurring before the adoption of such amendment, modification or repeal.


                                      II-2

<PAGE>



Item 16. Exhibits

 4.1     Company's Restated Articles of Incorporation, filed with the Commission
         as Exhibit 3(a) to Company's  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
         year ended February 28, 1990 (No. 1-8484),  are incorporated  herein by
         this reference.

4.2      Articles of Amendment to Company's  Restated Articles of Incorporation,
         filed with the  Commission as Exhibit 4 to Company's  Form 8 (Amendment
         No. 5 to Form 8-A  filed  April  26,  1983)  filed  August 6, 1992 (No.
         1-8484), are incorporated herein by this reference.

 4.3     Articles of Amendment to Company's  Restated Articles of Incorporation,
         filed with the Commission as Exhibit 3(c) to Company's Annual Report on
         Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 28, 1993 (No. 1-8484), are
         incorporated herein by this reference.

 4.4     Articles of Amendment to Company's  Restated Articles of Incorporation,
         filed with the Commission as Exhibit 3(d) to Company's Annual Report on
         Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 28, 1995 (No. 1-8484), are
         incorporated herein by this reference.

 4.5     Company's  By-laws,  as amended,  filed with the  Commission as Exhibit
         3(e) to Company's  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
         February  28,  1997  (No.  1-8484),  are  incorporated  herein  by this
         reference.

 4.6     Rights Agreement dated as of February 17, 1988 (the "Rights Agreement")
         between  the Company and Crestar  Bank,  filed with the  Commission  as
         Exhibit  (2) to  Company's  Registration  Statement  on Form 8- A dated
         February  19,  1988  (No.  1-8484),  is  incorporated  herein  by  this
         reference.

4.7      Supplements Nos. 1-4 dated September 15, 1989 to Rights Agreement filed
         with the Commission as Exhibits  2(a)-(d) to Form 8 (No.  1-8484) filed
         with the Commission on September 20, 1989, are  incorporated  herein by
         this reference.

5.1      Opinion and consent of McGuire,  Woods,  Battle & Boothe,  L.L.P. as to
         the validity of the Shares.

23.1     Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

23.2     Consent of McGuire, Woods, Battle & Boothe, L.L.P. (included as part of
         Exhibit 5.1).

23.3     Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.

23.4     Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

24.1     Power of Attorney (see signature page).

Item 17. Undertakings

     1. The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

         (a) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made,
     a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

                (i) To include any  prospectus  required by Section  10(a)(3) of
         the Securities Act;


                                      II-3

<PAGE>



                (ii) To reflect in the  prospectus  any facts or events  arising
         after the  effective  date of the  registration  statement (or the most
         recent post-effective amendment thereof) which,  individually or in the
         aggregate,  represent a fundamental change in the information set forth
         in the  registration  statement.  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  any
         increase  or  decrease  in volume of  securities  offered (if the total
         dollar  value of  securities  offered  would not exceed  that which was
         registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated
         maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed
         with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of
         1933 if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no
         more than a 20%  change in the  maximum  aggregate  offering  price set
         forth in the  "Calculation of Registration  Fee" table in the effective
         registration statement.

                (iii) To include any  material  information  with respect to the
         plan of  distribution  not  previously  disclosed  in the  registration
         statement  or  any  material   change  to  such   information   in  the
         registration statement;

provided,  however,  that  paragraphs  (a)(i)  and  (a)(ii)  do not apply if the
information  required  to be  included in a  post-effective  amendment  by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the registrant  pursuant to
Section 13 or 15(d) of the  Exchange Act that are  incorporated  by reference in
the registration statement.

         (b) That,  for the  purpose  of  determining  any  liability  under the
     Securities Act, each such post-effective  amendment shall be deemed to be a
     new registration  statement relating to the securities offered therein, and
     the  offering  of such  securities  at that time  shall be deemed to be the
     initial bona fide offering thereof.

         (c) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective  amendment
     any  of  the  securities  being  registered  which  remain  unsold  at  the
     termination of the offering.

     2. The  undersigned  registrant  hereby  undertakes  that,  for purposes of
determining  any  liability  under  the  Securities  Act,  each  filing  of  the
registrants'  annual  report  pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange
Act (and,  where  applicable,  each filing of an employee  benefit plan's annual
report  pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is  incorporated  by
reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration
statement relating to the securities  offered therein,  and the offering of such
securities  at that time shall be deemed to be the  initial  bona fide  offering
thereof.

     3. Insofar as indemnification  for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act may be  permitted to  directors,  officers  and  controlling  persons of the
registrant  pursuant  to the  provisions  described  under  Item  15  above,  or
otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission
such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act
and is, therefore,  unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
against such  liabilities  (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses
incurred or paid by a director,  officer or controlling person of the registrant
in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director,  officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been  settled by  controlling  precedent,  submit to a court of  appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such  indemnification  by it is against public
policy as  expressed  in the  Securities  Act and will be  governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.


                                      II-4

<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities Act, the Company  certifies
that it has reasonable  grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements
for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused  this  registration  statement  to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned,  thereunto duly authorized, in the City
of Richmond and Commonwealth of Virginia, on July 23, 1997.


                                        HEILIG-MEYERS COMPANY

                                        By:      /s/ William C. DeRusha
                                                 ---------------------------
                                                 William C. DeRusha
                                                 Chairman of the Board
                                                 Principal Executive Officer

                                Power of Attorney

     Each individual  whose signature  appears below appoints William C. DeRusha
and Troy A. Peery,  Jr., and each of them, as such  individual's true and lawful
attorneys-in-fact  and  agents  with  full  power  of  substitution,   for  such
individual  and in his or her name,  place and stead,  in any and all capacities
stated  below,  to  sign  any  and  all  amendments  (including   post-effective
amendments)  to  this  registration  statement  and any  registration  statement
related to the offering  contemplated by this registration  statement that is to
be effective  upon filing  pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the  Securities  Act of
1933,  as amended,  and to file the same,  with all  exhibits  thereto,  and all
documents in connection therewith,  with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents and each of them, full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary
to be done,  as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do
in person to enable the  Company to comply with the  Securities  Act of 1933 and
all requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act,  this  registration
statement has been signed below by the following  persons in the  capacities and
on the date indicated.

       Signature                             Title                    Date
       ---------                             -----                    ----

/s/ William C. DeRusha                Chairman of the Board;       July 23, 1997
- ------------------------------        Principal Executive
William C. DeRusha                    Officer; Director



/s/ Troy A. Peery, Jr.                President; Director          July 23, 1997
- ------------------------------
Troy A. Peery, Jr.



/s/ Roy B. Goodman                    Senior Vice President,       July 23, 1997
- ------------------------------        Finance; Principal
Roy B. Goodman                        Financial Officer



/s/ William J. Dieter                 Senior Vice President,       July 23, 1997
- ------------------------------        Accounting; Principal
William J. Dieter                     Accounting Officer



/s/ Hyman Meyers                      Director                     July 22, 1997
- ------------------------------
Hyman Meyers

<PAGE>







/s/ S. Sidney Meyers                  Director                     July 22, 1997
- ------------------------------
S. Sidney Meyers



/s/ Nathaniel Krumbein                Director                     July 22, 1997
- ------------------------------
Nathaniel Krumbein



/s/ Alexander Alexander               Director                     July 22, 1997
- ------------------------------
Alexander Alexander



/s/ Robert L. Burrus, Jr.             Director                     July 22, 1997
- ------------------------------
Robert L. Burrus, Jr.



/s/ Benjamin F. Edwards, III          Director                     July 22, 1997
- ------------------------------
Benjamin F. Edwards, III



/s/ Alan G. Fleischer                 Director                     July 22, 1997
- ------------------------------
Alan G. Fleischer



/s/ Lawrence N. Smith                 Director                     July 22, 1997
- ------------------------------
Lawrence N. Smith



/s/ Charles A. Davis                  Director                     July 22, 1997
- ------------------------------
Charles A. Davis



/s/ Beverley E. Dalton                Director                     July 22, 1997
- ------------------------------
Beverley E. Dalton



/s/ Eugene P. Trani                   Director                     July 22, 1997
- ------------------------------
Eugene P. Trani




<PAGE>



                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
  No.                                Description
- -------                              -----------

5.1      Opinion and consent of McGuire,  Woods,  Battle & Boothe,  L.L.P. as to
         the validity of the Shares.

23.1     Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

23.2     Consent of McGuire, Woods, Battle & Boothe, L.L.P. (included as part of
         Exhibit 5.1).

23.3     Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.

23.4     Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

24.1     Power of Attorney (see signature page).




            [Letterhead of McGuire, Woods, Battle & Boothe, L.L.P.]

                                                                     Exhibit 5.1




                                  July 25, 1997



Heilig-Meyers Company
2235 Staples Mill Road
Richmond, Virginia 23230

                     Re: Registration Statement on Form S-3
                        2,534,389 Shares of Common Stock

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         In  connection  with the  registration  of  2,534,389  shares of common
stock, par value $2.00 per share (the "Common Stock"), of Heilig-Meyers Company,
a Virginia  corporation  (the  "Company"),  under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Act"),  on Form S-3 to be filed with the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission on the date hereof (the "Registration  Statement"),  and the offering
of such  Common  Stock as  described  in the  Registration  Statement,  you have
requested our opinion with respect to the matters set forth below.

         In connection  with this opinion,  we have relied,  among other things,
upon our examination of such records of the Company and certificates of officers
of the Company and of public officials as we have deemed appropriate.

         Subject to the foregoing and the other matters set forth herein,  it is
our opinion that as of the date hereof:

         1.       The Company is duly  organized and validly  existing under the
                  laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia; and

         2.       The  shares  of  Common  Stock  registered   pursuant  to  the
                  Registration  Statement  have  been  duly  authorized  and are
                  validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

         We also reaffirm our opinion regarding the rights to purchase preferred
stock,  series A, $10.00 par value, of the Company ("the  Rights"),  attached in
equal number to the shares of Common  Stock  registered  under the  Registration
Statement,  given to the Company's Board of Directors as confirmed in our letter
of


<PAGE>


Heilig-Meyers Company
July 25, 1997
Page 2


February  17,  1988,  attached  to  our  opinion  filed  as  Exhibit  5  to  the
Heilig-Meyers Company Registration  Statement (No. 33-64616) on Form S-8. In our
opinion regarding the Rights, we discussed whether certain provisions of Section
13.1-638  of the  Virginia  Code might  prohibit  the  restrictions  on transfer
imposed  under the agreement  governing  the Rights.  The Virginia Code has been
amended to provide that,  notwithstanding  such provisions of Section  13.1-638,
the terms of rights issued by a corporation may include restrictions on transfer
by designated persons or classes of persons.

         We hereby  consent to the  filing of this  opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration  Statement and to reference to us under the heading relating to the
validity of the shares of Common Stock in the Registration  Statement (including
the applicable  Prospectus  relating to such shares).  We do not admit by giving
this consent that we are in the  category of persons  whose  consent is required
under Section 7 of the Act.

                                    Very truly yours,

                                    /s/ McGuire, Woods, Battle & Boothe, L.L.P.

                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1








                          INDEPENDENT AUDITORS'CONSENT


We consent to the incorporation by reference in this  Registration  Statement of
Heilig-Meyers  Company on Form S-3 of our report dated March 25, 1997, appearing
in the Annual Report on Form 1O-K of Heilig-Meyers  Company and subsidiaries for
the year ended  February  28, 1997 and to the  reference to us under the heading
"Experts" in the Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement.


/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Richmond, Virginia
July 24, 1997


                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.3








                   CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS




As  independent  Public  Accounts,  we hereby  consent to the  incorporation  by
reference  in this  registration  statement of our reports  dated April 25, 1996
incorporated  by  reference  in  Heilig-Meyers  Company  Form  8-K/A  and to all
references to our Firm included in this registration statement.



/s/ Arthur Andersen LLP

Atlanta, Georgia
July 21, 1997

                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.4








                         INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT


We Consent to the incorporation by reference in this  Registration  Statement of
Heilig-Meyers  Company on Form S-3 to be filed on or about July 24,  1997 of our
report dated January 5, 1996 on the financial  statements of Weberg  Division (a
division of Weberg Enterprises, Inc.) as of and for the year  ended December 31,
1994 which is  incorporated  by reference  in Amendment  No. 1 to Form 8-K dated
February 19, 1997 of Heilig-Meyers Company.





/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP


Denver, Colorado
July 24, 1997



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