EXHIBIT 24

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Edmond English and Donald G. Campbell and
each of them, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full
power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name,
place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the form 10-K to be filed by
The TJX Companies, Inc. for the fiscal year ended January 26, 2002 and any or
all amendments thereto and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and
other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary
to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he
or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that
said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their substitute or substitutes, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

                                       
/s/ EDMOND ENGLISH                        /s/ DONALD G. CAMPBELL
------------------------------------      ------------------------------------
Edmond English, President,                Donald G. Campbell, Executive Vice President -
Principal Executive Officer and           Finance, Principal Financial and
Director                                  Accounting Officer


/s/ DAVID A. BRANDON                      /s/ RICHARD LESSER
------------------------------------      ------------------------------------
David A. Brandon, Director                Richard Lesser, Director


/s/ BERNARD CAMMARATA                     /s/ JOHN F. O'BRIEN
------------------------------------      ------------------------------------
Bernard Cammarata, Director               John F. O'Brien, Director


/s/ GARY CRITTENDEN                       /s/ ROBERT F. SHAPIRO
------------------------------------      ------------------------------------
Gary Crittenden, Director                 Robert F. Shapiro, Director


/s/ GAIL DEEGAN                           /s/ WILLOW B. SHIRE
------------------------------------      ------------------------------------
Gail Deegan, Director                     Willow B. Shire, Director


/s/ DENNIS F. HIGHTOWER                   /s/ FLETCHER H. WILEY
------------------------------------      ------------------------------------
Dennis F. Hightower, Director             Fletcher H. Wiley, Director




Dated: April 10, 2002