EXHIBIT 31.1
 CERTIFICATION
  1)
    
    I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Heritage Financial Group;2)
    
    Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made,
in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading
with respect to the period covered by this report;3)
    
    Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information
included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial
condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the
periods presented in this report;4)
    
    The registrants other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and
maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules
13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in
Exchange Act Rules 13(a)-15f and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
 a)
    
    Designed such disclosure controls and
procedures, or caused such disclosure
controls and procedures to be designed
under our supervision, to ensure that
material information relating to the
small business issuer, including its
consolidated subsidiaries, is made know
to us by others within those entities,
particularly during the period in which
this report is being prepared;b)
    
    Designed such internal control over
financial reporting, or caused such
internal control over financial
reporting to be designed under our
supervision, to provide reasonable
assurance regarding the reliability of
financial reporting and preparation of
financial statements for external
purposes in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles;c)
    
    Evaluated the effectiveness of the
registrants disclosure controls and
procedures and presented in this report
our conclusions about the effectiveness
of the disclosure controls and
procedures, as of the end of the period
covered by this report based on such
evaluation; andd)
    
    Disclosed in this report any change in
the registrants internal control over
financial reporting that occurred
during the filers fourth fiscal
quarter that has materially affected,
or is reasonably likely to materially
affect, the filers internal control
over financial reporting; and
 5)
    
    The registrants other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most
recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrants
auditors and the audit committee of registrants board of directors (or persons
performing the equivalent functions):
 a)
    
    All significant deficiencies and
material weaknesses in the design or
operation of internal control over
financial reporting which are
reasonably likely to adversely affect
the registrants ability to record,
process, summarize and report financial
information; andb)
    
    Any fraud, whether or not material,
that involves management or other
employees who have a significant role
in the registrants internal control
over financial reporting.
 Date:       May 17, 2010
    By:
    /s/ O. Leonard DormineyO. Leonard DormineyPresident and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)