in 1994 sumbi was named a living history maker by "turning point" magazine, and won the phyllis wheatley award from international black writers and artists. in 2003 she received a president award from the usc alumni association, for serving on the board of directors of the university's black alumni association from its founding in 1976. she also received recognition from the american library association, the ywca of great los angeles, the mayor's office, and others. in 2008, she gave an oral history interview for the ucla center for oral history research.