FORT WORTH — A grassroots leader against natural gas pipelines in Fort Worth is giving up her fight.

Jerry Horton, the senior citizen credited with rallying her neighborhood against a Chesapeake Energy subsidiary, says she's had a change of heart.

Horton moved to the house she now occupies as a teenager. She has welcomed — and later grieved over — family, friends, and loves alike over the past 53 years.

The home became as much a part of her life as they were.

Perhaps that's why she fought so hard when Texas Midstream Gas Services, a subsidiary of Chesapeake Energy, came knocking one day, telling her she needed to let them lay a natural gas pipeline through her front yard.

"I was afraid they would cut my trees down or kill them," she said. "How do you replace a 100-year-old tree?"

And so, the 72-year-old retiree led protests and organized her neighbors. At one point, nearly half of them swore they would never sign.

But, one-by-one, they did.

Horton conceded that she never really thought she could win. "I hoped the bad press would make them back off," she said.

But Texas Midstream Gas Services did not back off. They need the pipeline to carry gas from nearby wells, and the company launched eminent domain proceedings.

On Thursday morning, as a condemnation hearing was set to begin, Jerry Horton gave in — giving her permission for the pipeline in exchange for $15,500. She also received promises that the surface of her yard would remain untouched.

"I knew if I went to condemnation court I would have no bargaining power at all," Horton said.

Chesapeake declined an on-camera interview, but company spokeswoman Jerri Robbins told News 8, "All parties are satisfied with the agreement and Ms. Horton was very pleasant."

By Chesapeake's count, only four homeowners remain as holdouts.

"They will lose," Horton warned. "They will lose."

One of those holdouts told News 8 that the loss of Horton's support hurts her, but she still has no immediate plans to sign.

E-mail chawes@wfaa.com