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EXHIBIT 99(a)

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

        In connection with the Annual Report of the Aaron Rents, Inc. Employees Retirement Plan and Trust (the "Plan") on Form 11-K for the year ending December 31, 2002, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), I, R. Charles Loudermilk, Sr., Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. section 1350, as adopted pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1)

The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and



(2)

the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Plan.

Date: June 30, 2003 /s/  R. CHARLES LOUDERMILK, SR. R.Charles Loudermilk, Sr.
Chief Executive Officer

A SIGNED ORIGINAL OF THIS WRITTEN STATEMENT REQUIRED BY SECTION 906 HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO AARON RENTS, INC. AND WILL BE RETAINED BY AARON RENTS, INC. AND FURNISHED TO THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ITS STAFF UPON REQUEST.

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CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002