Exhibit 4.7

                             COX TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

                      NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

     THIS NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT ("Option Agreement"), dated as of
the 10th day of March,  2000,  is by and  between  Cox  Technologies,  Inc.,  an
Arizona corporation (the "Company"), and the undersigned (the "Optionee"):

     WHEREAS,  the Company  and the  Optionee  have  entered  into a  Consulting
Agreement, dated of even date herewith, that provides for the grant of an option
to purchase  shares of the Company's  common stock to the Optionee in connection
with his engagement as a consultant to the Company; and

     WHEREAS,  the Company and the Optionee have reached certain agreements with
regard to the  foregoing  transaction,  all upon the terms and  conditions  more
particularly described herein.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises,  covenants and agreements
contained  herein,  the parties hereto hereby  mutually  covenant,  contract and
agree as follows:

     1. GRANT OF OPTION.  The Company hereby grants to the Optionee an option to
purchase a total of 300,000 shares of common stock of the Company (the "Shares")
at an  exercise  price of $1.25  per share  (the  "Option").  The  Option is not
intended  to be an  incentive  stock  option  described  in  section  422 of the
Internal  Revenue  Code of 1986,  as  amended  (the  "Code"),  and  this  Option
Agreement shall be construed to implement that intent.

     2. VESTING OF OPTION.  Subject to such  limitations and restrictions as are
provided in this Option Agreement, the Option is fully vested and is exercisable
immediately upon grant.

     3. EXPIRATION DATE. The Optionee's rights under this Option Agreement shall
expire ten (10) years from the date hereof.

     4.  EXERCISE  UPON  DEATH.  The Option of an  Optionee  who dies before the
Option has been  exercised  as to all vested  Shares,  may be  exercised  by the
Optionee's estate or by the person who acquired the right to exercise the Option
by bequest or inheritance by reason of the death of the Optionee.

     5. METHOD OF EXERCISE. The Option shall be exercised by the tender of cash,
or, at the  discretion  of the  Company,  by delivery of shares of Common  Stock
already  owned by  Optionee  or a  combination  of cash or such shares of Common
Stock,  or through such other means that the Company  determines are acceptable,
and  delivery  to the  Company at its  principal  place of business of a written
notice of exercise,  at least five (5) days prior to the date of  exercise.  The
written notice must:

          (a) State the  election  to exercise  the Option,  the number of whole
     Shares with respect to which the Option is being  exercised  (which may not
     be less  than  ten  thousand  (10,000)  Shares,  unless  the  number  being
     exercised  is the  balance  of the number of Shares  that may be  exercised
     under the Option), the method of exercise elected by the Optionee,  and the
     name,  address,  and social security number of the person in whose name the
     stock certificate for such Shares is to be registered;

          (b) be signed by the person  entitled to exercise  the Option,  and if
     the  Option is being  exercised  by any  person or  persons  other than the
     Optionee,  be accompanied  by proof,  satisfactory  to the Company,  of the
     right of such person or persons to exercise the Option; and

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          (c) be delivered by hand or by registered or certified  mail,  postage
     pre-paid,  return receipt requested, to the Company's principal place of or
     to such other  location as may be  specified in writing by the Company from
     time to time.

Within  ten  (10)  days  after  the  Company  receives  such  notice  in a  form
satisfactory  to the Company and the  acceptance  of payment,  the Company shall
deliver  to  the  Optionee  a  certificate  representing  the  Shares  purchased
hereunder.

     6. OTHER RESTRICTIONS. The Optionee shall not be entitled to the privileges
of stock  ownership of any Shares  subject to the Option until payment  therefor
has been made in full as provided in the Option.  An Option may be exercised and
certificates  for Shares may be delivered  hereunder only in compliance with all
applicable federal and state laws and regulations.  Any Share certificate issued
to  evidence  Shares  for which the Option is  exercised  may bear  legends  and
statements  the Company deems  advisable to assure  compliance  with federal and
state laws and regulations and this Option Agreement.

     7.  BINDING  EFFECT.  This  Agreement  shall be  binding  upon  the  heirs,
executors, administrators and successors of the parties hereto.

     8. APPLICABLE  LAW. This Option  Agreement shall be construed under and the
relationship  between the parties  determined in accordance with the laws of the
State of North Carolina  applicable to contracts made and to be performed in the
State of North  Carolina,  without  reference  to the  laws of any  other  state
through any principles concerning choice or conflict of laws.

     9.  CONSTRUCTION.  The  unenforceability  or invalidity of any provision of
this Option  Agreement  shall not affect the  enforceability  or validity of any
other  provision.  The parties may sign separate copies of this Option Agreement
which,  taken  together,  will be deemed to constitute a valid  agreement.  This
Option Agreement may be signed in counterparts,  each of which will be deemed an
original  and all of which  will  constitute  one and the same  agreement.  This
Option Agreement sets forth the entire understanding of the parties with respect
to the subject matter hereof.

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     IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the parties hereto have executed this Option Agreement
effective as of the day and year first above written.


                                        COX TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

                                        /s/ James L. Cox
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        James L. Cox
                                        Chairman, President and Chief Executive
                                        Officer


                                        OPTIONEE:

                                        /s/ Brian D. Fletcher
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Brian D. Fletcher

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