Cockrum's Gray Shrew is a small shrew, about 78–86 mm in total length. It ranges from southern Arizona to central Sonora, where described localities include riparian woodland and mesquite grassland.
Total length is 78–86 mm. Winter back hairs have dark grey-brown bases and tips separated by a narrow pinkish-white band; belly hairs have grey bases and broad white tips.
The type locality had riparian woodland of walnut and ash, together with mesquite grassland dominated by giant sacaton grass.
The claw on the middle digit of the forefoot is 1.0–1.2 mm long.
In winter pelage, the tail hairs are also dark grey-brown.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.