CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The spirit of Santa has lived in John Johnson's heart since he first donned a Santa suit when he was 6 years old. His mother made him a red suit and cotton-ball beard for his appearance in a Christmas play.

"It just stuck," he said. "I grew up in Tornado and always got the role of Santa in productions. My father never portrayed Santa, but he had his spirit. He was very generous, loved children and he loved the holidays. Both my parents did."

When his father died last year at Hubbard Hospice House, Johnson decided to bring Santa's spirit to the patients there. With his full, snowy beard and sweep of thick white hair (bleached because, at age 32, Johnson's natural hair color is brown) and in detailed Santa suit, Johnson hopes he brings some comfort to Hospice patients, and to critically ill children whom he also visits in local hospitals.

Johnson's Church of Christ background comes in handy when he visits the critically ill and the dying.

"I comfort and listen. It isn't hard for me to do," he said. "The tears come afterward, when I sit down in the car."

Sometimes all he can offer is a hand to hold and a quiet reassurance that Santa is thinking of the patient. He gauges the patient's and their family's reactions to see if a more jolly Santa would be welcome.

He remembers a woman who couldn't speak, but smiled broadly as soon as he stepped into her room. Johnson noticed that her son turned away during the visit. He followed Johnson into the hall and thanked him for giving his mother the last smile she might ever have.

"Those experiences fuel me to do more," he said. "The spirit of Christmas is love. It's especially strong in Santa."

Before he could officially volunteer at Hubbard Hospice House, Johnson underwent training through Santa America, an organization that provides visits for children and families in crisis. For the first time, he'll keep his beard and hair snowy white year-round while he's West Virginia's only official Santa America volunteer. About 100 Santas nationwide are on-call to visit critically ill children, or those who have lost parents, children in military families and children with autism.

This year, he hopes to also visit Hospice patients in their homes.

"We are so excited to work with John," said Jewell Cook, Hospice volunteer director, "He's so into Santa and brings a beautiful spirit with him."

When he's not portraying Santa, Johnson works as a claims examiner for Wells Fargo Third Party Administrators. He saves all his vacation time, except for one week when he takes his wife, Michelle, to the beach, to use doing peak Santa season -- late November to Christmas Eve.