By day, he's a middle school principal. On weekends, he moonlights as Black Santa Claus.
SHELBY, N.C. – By day, Titus Hopper earns respect as a school principal. But on weekends during the holiday season, he transforms into someone much more magical.
With his bright red robes and a gleaming gold title belt, Hopper has, for the last two years, turned himself into Hop, the Black Santa Claus. He wants to share a ho-ho-ho and a Merry Christmas with as many young people as he can this time of year.
"There is a diversity in how people like to celebrate Christmas. But no matter how you celebrate, everybody believes in happiness and smiles, and happiness and smiles are what is needed this year," said Hopper, principal of fifth- and sixth-graders at Shelby Intermediate School.
Hopper began playing Hop in 2019. Well before the Christmas season, he and his wife Michelle attended a photoshoot aimed at raising awareness for child loss and infertility. While at the shoot, Hopper said photographer Charmeika Bias saw his bushy white beard and asked him if he'd like to be Santa.
"My wife said yes for me. I was 'voluntold' to do it," Hopper said.
Almost from the moment Hopper donned the red suit, Hop has been a hit.
"As soon as we posted it, our sessions filled up," he said.
Hopper spent last Christmas listening to Christmas wishes from local children and having his photograph taken with them for their families.
He enjoyed the gig so much he went out and bought his own Santa suit to use this year, and a custom pro wrestling-style title championship belt, dubbing Hop the champion of giving.
Unable to meet personally with children this year because of the coronavirus pandemic, Hopper took his act online this winter. Through his website families can book Hop for a 10-minute Zoom session.
Hosted in Santa Hop's Zoom Room, kids get to hear a Christmas story from Hop, share their Christmas wish-list and a pose for a screen grab which is later turned into a keepsake for families.
Over the last three weeks he's met with children from across the United States, some from as far away as Louisiana.
"I think I get more out of it than the kids do," said Hopper. "It is just fun to see the smiles on the kids' faces."
Follow Shelby reporter Dustin George on Twitter: @DustinLGeorge.