Jeffrey B. Eline

Jeffrey Butler Eline, 58, of Reisterstown, Maryland, passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 19, 2026, at Gilchrist Hospice Center in Towson, after a courageous battle with colon cancer.

Born August 5, 1967, in Baltimore, Maryland, Jeff was the son of the late James Bevard Eline and Janet Butler Eline. He was the beloved husband of Gayle Bateman-Eline and a devoted father to Aaron and Selby Eline.

Jeff was a proud graduate of Franklin Senior High School, class of 1985, and went on to earn his degree in Communications from Wilkes University in 1989. During his college years, he broadened his horizons studying abroad at the City of London Polytechnic in 1988, an experience that would influence both his creative and professional pursuits.

Jeff lived a life defined by creativity, service, and passion. His early career in media and film included work with WJZ Channel 13 in Baltimore, Molinaire Film in London, and WBRE (NBC), where he served as a director from 1989 to 1990. His love for film and creative media carried into his work as the founder of e-LINE Video Production from 1995 to 2010, where he produced three feature films: Lottery Incident (1995), Mentor (2005), and I Do & I Don't (2008), collaborating with notable actors including Rutger Hauer, Dagmara Dominczyk, Jane Lynch, and Matt Servitto.

In 1991, Jeff joined Eline Funeral Home as co-owner alongside his father, James, his uncle, Jerry, and his cousin, Steven, continuing a longstanding family tradition of service as a fifth-generation funeral director. For more than 30 years, he was devoted to serving families with compassion, dignity, and personalized care, carrying forward the values that have long defined our family firm. Upon his retirement in 2022, Jeff left behind a legacy of trusted service and a lasting impact on the community he was honored and impassioned to serve.

Beyond his professional life, Jeff's passions were as remarkable as his career. A gifted musician, he began playing guitar at just five years old and performed in numerous bands and solo acts throughout the 1990s. His songwriting talent earned recognition as a finalist in WGRX's "Song for Baltimore" with his piece Baltimore Bound.

Jeff also had a lifelong love for the art of magic. For more than 50 years, he studied and performed, beginning with children's birthday parties in his youth and evolving into a highly respected presence in the magic community. He was a member of the Society of American Magicians, the International Brotherhood of Magicians, the prestigious Magic Circle in London, and the exclusive 4F organization for close-up magicians in the United States. He also produced Baltimore's only close-up magic show, Up Close & Personal, sharing his talent and wonder with countless audiences.

Jeff will be remembered for his creativity, his generosity of spirit, and his ability to connect with people - whether through a story, a song, a moment of magic, or a comforting word in a time of need.

In addition to his loving wife and children, Jeff is survived by his mother, Janet. He was preceded in death by his father, James Bevard Eline.

Family and friends are invited to gather for visitation at Eline Funeral Home, Reisterstown (11824 Reisterstown Road, Reisterstown, MD 21136) on Friday, March 27, 2026, from 3:00-5:00 PM and 7:00-9:00 PM.

A celebration of Jeff's life will be held on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at 11:00 AM at the funeral home with a reception to follow.

Interment will be at a later date at All Saints' Cemetery in Reisterstown, Maryland.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Jeff's memory to two charities that he personally held close to heart:

Colorrectal Cancer Alliance

The NAMM Foundation